Eileen M. Simonton

Eileen Marie (Gross) Simonton died surrounded by her family at Helia Healthcare in Benton, IL on August 16, 2022. Eileen was born June 20, 1927 in Beckemeyer IL, the youngest daughter of Edward and Kate Gross. She married William F. Simonton on January 15, 1944 in Camp White, Medford, Oregon. They had four children, William E. Simonton, Connie S. Johnson, Judith M. Horan, and Jo Ann Bach.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William F. Simonton, her son William E. Simonton, her daughter Judith Horan, sons-in-law Stephen Johnson and Ken Bach, grandson Todd Johnson, parents Edward and Kate (Fauke) Gross, sisters Mildred and Leona Gross, Viola Kruep McBride, and brother Edward Gross.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory her daughters Connie Johnson of Marion IL, Jo Ann Bach of Makanda, IL , son-in-law Richard Horan of Delmar, NY, daughter-in-law Cheryl (Ron) Forth of Centralia, IL, sister-in-law Betty Sutton of Visalia, CA, grandchildren Lyle(Jenny) Simonton of Smithton, IL, Lori(Jim)Barkley of Nicholasville, KY, and Patrick(Lily) Horan of Darien, CT, great grandchildren Samantha Johnson of Grand Rapids, MI, Alyson Johnson(fiancée Isaac Collins ) of Springfield, IL, Emma Johnson of Crystal Lake, IL, Will and Sydney Simonton of Smithton, IL, Brynn and Katie Barkley of Nicholasville, KY and Harrison and Emilia Horan of Darien, CT, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins that she loved dearly.

Eileen was a homemaker and worked for Super Value in Carlyle, Il as a checker for 30 years. She volunteered for church and community fund-raisers, and loved to entertain her family and friends. She attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School for her elementary years and public school for high school years. She loved to travel with Bill visiting their children in Illinois and on the east and west coasts and meeting Don and Betty Sutton from California in British Columbia for their fishing trips. She lived a full and active life after Bill passed, until her fall and illness in April 2022. She was a past president of the American Legion Auxiliary and member for many years, a member of the St. Ann’s Sodality, the Carlyle VFW Auxiliary, the Red Hatters and the Canasta Club in Beckemeyer. She loved and was dearly loved by her family and friends.

Visitation for Eileen will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Beckemeyer on Friday, August 26 from 9:00-10:00, with a Mass of Resurrection following the visitation. The interment will be at St. Anthony’s Cemetery in Beckemeyer.

In lieu of flowers, gifts and other customary remembrances, memorial donations may be made to St. Anthony’s Church in Beckemeyer, or the American Lung Association and will be received at church or at Nordike Funeral Home, 740 Fairfax Street, Carlyle, IL 62231.

Online condolences may be made to the Simonton family by visiting www.nordikefuneralhome .