Remembering Departed Members of Anna-Jonesboro High School, Class of 1949

Michael Lamer Brown 1931 2011, A-J 1949 Classmate. Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Mr. Michael Lamer Brown, age 79 of New York City, formerly of Anna, died peacefully on March 11, 2011 in New York City. He was born November 11, 1931 in Anna, the son of Roy and Ellen (Lamer) Brown. Michael is survived by his nephew, Steve (Francie) Shafer of Marion; niece Susan (Michael) Leverda of Tucson, AZ; four great nephew and nieces, five great-great nephews and nieces; cousins, Marianna Riley and Beverly Anderson both of St. Louis; other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Patricia Brown Schafer Ragain. A graduate of Northwestern University and a veteran of the Korean Conflict, Michael was a longtime associate of the Wally Findlay Galleries in Chicago, New York and Palm Beach, retiring in 2000. The family wishes to thank Michael's longtime New York City friend, Liz Albertson, for her love and care during Michael's illness. In the near future Michael's New York friends will gather to honor his memory. Family and friends plan to meet in Anna to reminisce and celebrate Michael's life. THIS OBITUARY IS COURTESY OF RENDLEMAN & HILEMAN FUNERAL HOME IN ANNA. Published: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 10:10 AM CDT

George E. Dillow 1931 2007, A-J 1949 Class, Air Force, Korean War Veteran, Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

HERRIN - George E. Dillow, 76, of Herrin and formerly of Union County, died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007, in Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion. He was born Feb. 4, 1931, in Jonesboro, the son of P. D. and Zona Dillow. He married Nellie Wright on Nov. 29, 1953, in Anna. George was a Korean War veteran; he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force one day after high school graduation. He spent three months in basic training at Lackland Air Base in San Antonio, Texas, and nine months in Aircraft and Engine Mechanic School at Sheppard Air Force Base, in Wichita Falls, Texas. He signed up for overseas deployment when the Korean War broke out. He was deployed to Itazuke Air Base in Fukuoka, Japan on the island of Kyushu. He spent 30 months at Itazuke, acquiring the rank of Airman First Class before returning to Scott Air Force Base where he received an honorable discharge on Dec. 3, 1952. George was a proud American who served his country. George served on the Jonesboro School Board and the Anna-Jonesboro High School Board. He was a dairy farmer, carpenter, and retired as a rural letter carrier in 1989 after 32 years of service. George was a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle and friend. He will be sadly missed by family and friends. George was a Christian and was of the Baptist faith. He is survived by his wife, Nellie of Herrin; one daughter, Georgena Ottolini of Okawville; one brother, Leon Dillow of Murphysboro; two sisters, Genevieve Wiggs of Jonesboro and Deloris Landreth of Jonesboro; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by one brother, Harold Dillow and one sister, Irene Dillow. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007, in the chapel of Hileman Funeral Home, with the Pastor Bryan McAlister officiating. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27, 2007, at the funeral home. Interment will be in Ebenezer Hall Cemetery. Military Rites will be conducted at the graveside by Carroll P. Foster Post 3455 Anna VFW. Memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association and will be accepted at the funeral home. Published in The Southern Illinoisan on 8/27/2007. George graduate with the Anna-Jonesboro Community High School Class of 1949.

Eula Gertrude Smith Sheffer 1931 2012, A-J 1949 Classmate. Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Mrs. Eula Gertrude Sheffer, age 81 of Murphysboro formerly of Anna, died at 9:08 p.m. Thursday, August 30, 2012 at the Rehab and Care Center of Jackson County in Murphysboro. She was born July 5, 1931 in Cave in Rock, IL, the daughter of Louie Melvin and Estella Gertrude Wallace Smith. She married Llewellyn Donald Sheffer on March 23, 1951 in Jonesboro. Eula is survived by her husband, Don Sheffer of Murphysboro; three sons, Donald R. (Donna) Sheffer of Marion, Ronald L. (Kathy) Sheffer of Benton, Harold E. Sheffer of Murphysboro; one daughter, Debbie S. (Roy) Wright of Cabot, AR; six grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren; four brothers, Wendell Smith of Texas, Richard Smith of Jonesboro, Kenneth (Lois) Smith of Anna, Bill (Janice) Smith of Goreville; one sister, Mary Alice Rheam of Brainard, MN; other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Louie Melvin. Eula was a member of the First Baptist Church in Anna for many years. Funeral services for Mrs. Eula Gertrude Sheffer will be at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, September 2, 2012 at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna with Rev. Myron Dillow officiating. Interment will be in the Anna City Cemetery. Friends may call after 11:00 a.m. and until the funeral hour Sunday, September 2, 2012 at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson or Diabetes Foundation. Envelopes will be available at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna.

Ruth Ann Smith Pisoni 1931-2008, A-J 1950 Classmate. Information furnished by A-J Classmate and Friends.

Volunteer ANNA - Ruth Ann Pisoni, 76, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, in a hospital. For the past several years she resided at Westwood Retirement Resort in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. She was born on November 7, 1931, in Flora to Harold S. and Mary (Berry) Smith, and spent her childhood in Anna. She had resided in the Shalimar area for the past 30 years, moving there from Langley Air Force Base, Va. She was a member and volunteer at Shalimar United Methodist Church. She also volunteered for American Red Cross blood drives and the American Association of University Women. She was a graduate of Southern Illinois University in the class of 1953, where she met and married Charles E. Pisoni and became an Air Force wife. She traveled many places with her husband including France, Arizona, Alaska and Virginia. Charles preceded her in death in 1994. She is survived by her daughter, Pamela Pisoni Moore and husband, Thomas, of Burke, Va; brother, Stephen Smith of O'Fallon, Mo.; sisters, Jean E. Wilkins of Springfield and Susan Schild of Tucson, Ariz.; and three granddaughters, Sarah, Elizabeth and Rachel Moore. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, in McLaughlin Mortuary. Burial will be at 1:15 p.m. Monday in Barrancas National Cemetery. The family will be accepting friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, at the mortuary. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Ruth A. Pisoni to Shalimar United Methodist Church Sanctuary Refurbishment Fund 1 Old Ferry Road, Shalimar, FL 32579 or American Diabetes Association 5514 N. Davis Highway, Suite C-111, Pensacola, FL, 32503. McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 is in charge of all arrangements. Ruth Ann Smith Pisoni graduated with the Anna-Jonesboro High School Class of 1949.

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