Fairbury – Bernice Cox, 103, of Fairbury, passed away at 1:55am, November 27, 2021, at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.
Her funeral will be held at 10:00am, Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at Forrest Apostolic Christian Church. Ministers of the Church will be officiating.
Burial will be in South Apostolic Christian Cemetery.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to services on Tuesday at the Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Fairview Haven Retirement Community or SELCAS.
Mrs. Cox was born June 4, 1918, in Strawn the daughter of Andrew and Martha (Zimmerman) Koehl. She married Wayne Cox on February 20, 1941. He died August 20, 1991.
Surviving are her daughters, Gloria (Lyle) Ebach and Gail (Kenneth) Kafer both of Fairbury; grandchildren, Jennifer (Doug) Dierkes of Bloomington, Gretchen (Jim) Sitman of Carol Stream, Kent (Amy) Kafer, Kevin (April) Kafer, and Courtney (Mark) Farrell all of Fairbury; 11 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandson; sister, Velda Huette of Fairbury; sisters-in-law, Gladys Koehl of Fairbury and Janita Koehl of OH.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and two sisters.
Mrs. Cox was a cook at Fairbury Cropsey School for 19 years.
She was a member of the Forrest Apostolic Christian Church and the Forrest Sewing Circle.
The family would like thank the caregivers and staff at Fairview Haven Retirement Community for wonderful care given to Bernice.

​Good Neighbors of Fairview Haven Update:
We wanted to send some love and encouragement (and snacks! ) to the team at St. James Medical Center. From one healthcare team to another ... we understand how stressful and disheartening the past couple years have been. Love and prayers to you all and THANK YOU for caring for our communities!

Colfax – Marilyn Kellar, 86, of Colfax, passed away at 9:10pm, November 7, 2021, at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.
Her visitation will be held from 4-7:00pm, Friday, November 12, 2021, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax.
A private family service will be held. Burial will be in Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, Colfax.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Colfax Restoration Project.
Marilyn was born November 20, 1934, in Pontiac the daughter of Rudolph and Mary (DeGroodt) Westermeyer.
She married Leon Kennedy Kellar on December 5, 1954, in Eppards Point Twp. He passed away March 11, 2015.
Surviving are her daughters, Kim Streenz of Colfax and Lea Ann (Larry) Watson of Lexington and sons, Rodney (Teri) Kellar of Colfax and Todd (Cheryl) Kellar of East Peoria; grandchildren, Kara (Chad) Ritchie, Brooke (Dave Wiltz) Hermanowicz, Michael (Lindsey) Kellar, and Lauren (Dustin McCarty) Kellar; great-grandchildren, Addison and Jackson Ritchie, Mia Trudo, and Graceyn and Hadley Kellar.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and two sisters.
Marilyn was secretary for Octavia School District from 1967-1989 and Ridgeview High School from 1989-1996.
Marilyn was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Colfax. Going to church and her church family meant a lot to Marilyn.
She enjoyed many family vacations and especially traveling to Williamsburg, Galena, New York, and Colorado.
Marilyn truly loved and shared a special bond with her siblings and her nieces and nephews.
Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren held a very special place in her heart. She loved them dearly and was very proud of them.
The family would like to give their deepest appreciation for the wonderful care that their Mother received during her stay at Fairview Haven.

Alvin Raymond “Ray” Mishler 99, of Fairbury passed away at 2 pm, Friday, October 29, 2021 at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.   
Cremation rites have been accorded with private family services.  The family suggests that memorial contributions be directed to Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury or First United Methodist Church of Fairbury or SELCAS, Fairbury. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is in charge of arrangements. 
Mr. Mishler was born on May 6, 1922 in Brokaw Hospital, Normal; a son to Israel and Hattie (Metzger) Mishler.  He married Marjorie E. Lewis on November 25, 1944 in Bloomington. His wife, Marge survives in Fairbury.
Also surviving are his children, Linda (John) Gathman of Longmont, CO; Roger (Nancy) Mishler of El Paso; Robert Mishler of Champaign; two grandchildren, Christopher Gathman of Greeley, CO and Ryan Mishler of Bloomington.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, two sisters and one grandson Dannon Mishler.
Ray lost his father at an early age and began farming.  As the youngest son of the family, he managed his mother’s farm near Carlock until it was sold in 1943.  He served as a Sergeant in the US Army Air Force from 1944 to 1946 as a radio operator.
After the service, Ray farmed for a family friend in Carlock before moving to Fairbury in 1951. There he farmed for forty years.  Ray retired from farming in 1991 and moved into Fairbury. He worked various jobs, finally retiring from the City of Fairbury Water Department in 2012 at age 90. Ray was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Fairbury and a Mason. ​