In Memoriam - November 27th

1852 Mary (Speer) Taylor age 49 in Oldham Co., KY.  She was born in Shelby Co., KY in 1803 the daughter of Andrew & Elizabeth (Shelton) Speer.

1904 John Smith age 77 in Madison Co., IL, the son of James & Elizabeth (Tewalt) Smith.  He was born in Frederick Co., VA in 1827.  John married Susannah Smart and they had eight children:  Martha, William, Sidney, Mary, John, Narcissa, James and Itha. 

1916 Cecil Holler the fourteen year old son of Willis & Martha (Spry) Holler. He is buried in Orchard Hill Cemetery in Clay Co., IL.

1989 Lora (Anderson) Chase the daughter of Jabez & Doretta (Maulding) Anderson, age 100 in Dahlgren, IL.  Lora was born in Middleton, IL in 1889.  She married Elias Chase and they had a son Vance.  Lora is buried in Mt. Zion / Farnsworth Cemetery.

2003 Harry A. Parkhill, 76, of Gilman, died 8:40 p.m. Nov. 27, 2003 at Gilman Nursing Pavilion.

Born May 16, 1927, in Webber Township near Bluford, he was a son of John T. and Rueverta (Wilson) Parkhill.

A graduate of Webber Township High School, he was an educator and a social worker.

He married Emma Pauline Strickler in Marion on July 25, 1954, and she survives.

Services were today at the United Methodist Church in Gilman.  Redenius Funeral Home of Gilman was in charge of arrangements.  Burial was in Gilman Cemetery.

In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, Paul Parkhill and wife Janice of Gilman and a daughter, Harriet Fiedler and husband Farron of Kankakee; six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and a sister, Fairy Pilcher of Farina.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mr. Parkhill was a former resident of Kankakee.

He was a former member of St. Mark Methodist Church of Kankakee and had attended the United Methodist Church of Gilman.  He was a member of the IOOF Lodge, the National Audobon Society; historical societies in Kankakee and Iroquois County and was also a member of the State of Illinois Historical Society; was a former Cub Scout Master in Kankakee, was a member of the AFSCME union and of the Retired Teachers’ Association.

Mr. Parkhill received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana Central College in Indianapolis and his master’s degree from Governor State University in University Park.

He taught in the Chebanse School District and also at the Manteno Mental Health Center and the Fox Development Center in Dwight.

Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church of Gilman or the University of Indianapolis.