The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • D4

D4 Saturday, ecember 31, 2016 he Pantagra 1 OBITUARIES CENTRAL ILLINOIS Virginia Ruth Evans CLINTON Virginia Ruth Evans, 91, of Clinton, passed away at 12:28 a.m. Thur sday (Dec. 29, 2016) at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal. Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Woodlawn Cemetery Chapel, Edwardsville.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton. Memorials may be directed to the Vespasian Warner Public Libr ary Fund or the DeWitt County Friendship Center. Virginia was born Sept. 27, 1925, in Edwardsville, the daughter of G.

and Margaret Eberhart Wheat. She married James Hugo Evans on Dec. 24, 1942, in Edwardsville. He passed away on June 6, 2016. Survivors include her children, Kenneth J.

(Mary Elizabeth) Evans, Havana; Gene M. (Nancy Ann) Evans, Gainesville, and Glen R. Evans, Clinton; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and four siblings. Virginia grew up in Edwardsville and graduated from Ed wardsville High School.

She moved to Clinton in late 1958 to open a local Western Auto Store with her husband. She was a member of Clinton United Methodist Church. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing bridge. Mostly, she loved being with her family. Condolences may be made at www.calvertme morial.com.

Maxine Larson PAXTON Maxine M. Larson, 71, of Paxton, died on Dec. 19, 2016, at Paxton Healthcare and Rehab, Paxton. She was born March 8, 1945. She is survived by six children, 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Melvin Community Hall, Melvin. Barbara Ann Reynolds GIBSON CITY Barbara Ann Lawson Reynolds, of Erlanger, formerly of Gibson City, passed away on Tuesday (Dec. 27, 2016), in Erlanger, at the age of 80. Barbara was a graduate of Holmes High School, University of Kentucky and the University of Illinois.

She rec eived her teaching degree at the Univ ersity of Kentucky She taught first grade in Gibson City for 20 years and was a public librarian for 12 years. Although she held a full-time teaching position, she was also a full- time wife and loved the members of the many churches that she and Hugh ministered in. Making friends was easy for Barbara, as she enjoyed singing in the choir and the many clubs that she belonged to. Barbara and Hugh would play Mr. and Mrs.

Santa Claus at Christmas for the children at each church. Her passion was children and teaching was her life. She saw to it that each child who entered her first-grade classroom would learn to read before they left for the second grade. She leaves behind her husband of 59 years, the Rev. Dr.

Hugh Reynolds Jr; son, Dr. Brian (Dr. Kirsten) Reynolds; daughters, Shannon (Steve) Svedlund and Lorelei Hays; grand children, Dr. Felicia Sved lund, Samantha Svedlund, Ian (Kayla) Reynolds, J.D. (Lois) Reynolds, Menika Reynolds, Sgt.

Sean Cunningham and Cameron Hays; sisters, Margaret (Charles) Meyers and Bonnie (Gerald K. Sr.) Jansen; and brother, Eddie (Judy) Lawson Jr. Services were 1 p.m. Thursday at Madison Avenue Christian Church, 1530 Madison Covington, Ky. Interment was in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate, Ky.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to The Point Learning Center, Covington, or the First Christian Church or the Busy Hands Nursery School, Gibson City. Allison Rose Funeral Home, Taylor Mill, is serving the family. Condolences may be made to www.allis onrosefuneral home.com. Susan J. Semlow LINCOLN Susan J.

Semlow, 75, of Bourbonnais, formerly of Lincoln, passed away Thursday (Dec. 29, 2016) at her home. She was born Jan. 23, 1941, in Lincoln, the daughter of Harry and Louise Fletcher Hostetter. Susan married Bruce E.

Semlow on Aug. 26, 1961, in Lincoln. She was a former employee of Alexander Lumber Co. She enjoyed taking care of her grandchildren. Surviving are her husband, Bruce Semlow, Bour bonnais; one son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Sherry Semlow, Bloomington; one daughter, Kelly Semlow-Smith, Bourbonnais; and one brother and sister-in-law, James and Brenda Hostetter, Lincoln; and 11 grandchildren, Corinne (Devan), Hollie (Trey), Emily, Abigail, Annabelle, Mia, J.B., Isaiah, Josiah, Kaden and Lydia.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents. Cremation rites have been accorded and a memorial service will be at a later date at American Lutheran Church, Bourbonnais. Inurnment will be in Ne Union Cemetery, Lincoln. Memorials may be made to American Lutheran Church. Arrangements are by Clancy-Gernon Funeral Homes.

Please sign her guest book at www.clancyger non.com. BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL Becky Jean Snyder Bush NORMAL Becky Jean Snyder Bush, 65, of Normal, died Dec. 21, 2016, at Ad vocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal. She was born Sept. 20, 1951, in Eugene, Ore.

She then moved to Lincoln, while still an infant. She graduated from Lincoln Southwest High School, Lincoln, then moved to Upland, Calif. She earned an degree in library science from Chaffey College, Upland, and a library media technician degree from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, Calif. She was a copy cataloger for Honnold Library at the Claremont Colleges for 11 years and also did library work in Fort Collins, Colo. Becky received Jesus as her savior in 1971 at a Kathryn Kuhlman service.

She attended Calvary Fellowship, Redding, and was baptized in water there in the ocean. She married Dale Bush on Aug. 17, 2002; he survives. She served on the board while attending Hopedale Open Bible Church, and also at Christian Faith Center, Bloomington. She taught Bible studies and was a Sunday school teacher.

At CFC she was a head usher. At every church she found a way to serve. For 10 years, she served in United Marriage Encounters events and was part of a cor group. She had two dogs, Shadow, and recently, Pepper, a black female purebred poodle, and since 2010 became active in, and later, a member of two dog clubs in the area, including TCKC in Bloomington and POTC in Peoria. Her dog Shadow gained national, top-10 recognition in the dog sport of rally at the age of 12.

Her final job was as a home health aide for the YWCA, and she enjoyed serving and helping them. Cremation has been performed and a memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 21 at Christian Faith Center, 502 W. Front Bloomington, with Pastor Mark Marshall presiding.

A reception will follow at 3 p.m. at the VFW Post 454, 1006 E. Lincoln Bloomington. Also surviving are her brother, Tom (Rustee) Snyder from California; her sister, Martha (Peter) Notes from Colorado; two nephews; and four nieces. Virginia Ruth Evans Barbara Ann Reynolds Susan J.

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Quiram-Peasley Funeral ome a tlanta. ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON Police say an initial autopsy of George Michael has been and more tests must be carried out to establish a cause of death. Thames Valley Police said Friday the results of further tests will not be known for several weeks. death on Christmas Day is being treated as but not This is an indication that police found no evidence of foul play. The manager said the singer died of apparent heart failure at his country home.

The post-mortem examination was conducted Thursday. Meanwhile, tributes by his close friends continued. Elton John teared up while paying tribute to his friend George Michael during a concert in Las Vegas this week. With a picture of Michael lighting up the backdrop of the stage, he performed Let the Sun Go Down on The 53-year- old Michael died on Christmas Day. John called his death one of the of his career.

He said he knew Michael from the start of WHAM! and the two collaborated on music. John also tweeted a photo of the two, writing: am in deep shock. I have lost a beloved friend the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant He said Michael donated to causes without fanfare. More tests needed in Michael death TIM IRELAND ASSOCIATED PRESS Photo shows tributes left outside the home of ritish musician eor ge ichael in ondon after his death Sunday at the age of 53. NICOLE EVATT Associated Press BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.

Zsa Zsa Gabor has been remembered for her love of glamour and red carpets at a funeral Mass honoring the actress. Around 100 mourners gathered Friday at a picturesque Beverly Hills church to pay respects to Gabor, who died Dec. 18 from a heart attack at age 99. husband Frederic von Anhalt gave a lengthy eulogy recounting their relationship and desire for the spotlight. The Mass ended with von Anhalt putting a gold box housing ashes into a Louis Vuitton dog bag he said his wife used during her lifetime.

Several elaborate floral arrangements were on the al tar, which included a photo of Gabor wearing a red dress with the words, My printed on it. The jet-setting Hungarian-American actress was best-known or flaunting her wealth and her multiple marriages. Zsa Zsa life honored at funeral MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press NORRISTOWN, Pa. Bill Cosby is starting 2017 in a legal dragnet that has only tightened around him since his stunning arrest a year ago. Cosby was charged with aggravated sexual assault on Dec.

30, 2015, just days before the 12-year statute of limitations would have run out over a 2004 encounter at his estate near Philadelphia. A year later, increasingly unlikely that he can avoid a felony trial slated for June. The judge has denied nearly each defense motion as the two sides fight ov er deposition, other accusers and the decade-long delay in filing charges. sound like the prosecutors are inclined to give him a deal that will said Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson, who is not involved in the case. an elderl man, and any (jail sentence) is probably, in his mind, worth A recent tabloid news report suggested a plea could be in the works, but Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin spokeswoman calls the report unfounded.

Still, some celebrity lawyers rule it out. I think they work something out. Unfortunately, I think the deal he said Los Angeles lawyer Mark Geragos, who represented Michael Jackson on child molestation charges. they can work out a felony with minimal time, I think be wise to take it, given his age and On Friday, his attorneys filed a motion seeking to move the trial or bring in a jury from elsewhere, arguing been widespread negative news coverage that would make juror bias inevitable. lawyers said he has been the target of an and prejudicial smear and branded a monster, a sociopath and a sexual predator in news accounts.

A spokeswoman for the district office said Steele has previously told the judge and lawyers he does not oppose the request. Cosby, 79 and legally blind, had appeared shaken last year as he maneuvered past the cameras that mobbed him outside the small court office where he posted $1 million bail after his arrest. But he now appears more comfortable in court after a half-dozen or so hearings. He quipped Tase me, to security guards wanding visitors at the Montgomery County Courthouse this month; shouted out answers to questions meant for lawyers at the latest pretrial hearing; and drifted into a comedic riff as he and a handler left the ceremonial courtroom where the case is being heard to accommodate the media. Yet inside the room, been rough going for long beloved for his portrayal of family man Cliff Huxtable on the top-ranked 1980s sitcom Cosby The aging comedian is accused of sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a basketball team manager he knew through Temple University, where he was a trustee and high-profile booster.

Common Pleas Judge Steven has said the jury can hear the damaging deposition he gave in her 2005 lawsuit, when Cosby acknowledged a long list of affairs and hookups with young women during his 52-year marriage. He also testified to giving at least one woman quaaludes before sex and giving others, including Constand, pills and wine. Scores of women now say they were drugged and molested. Steele wants 13 of them to testify at trial. heard two days of arguments on the issue this month.

Steele called Cosby a lifelong sexual predator with a signature style. The defense questioned the memories and motivations as they sought to keep them from testifying as bad witnesses. hard to know what the (plea) deal would be if the prosecution wins on the prior bad act Levenson said. not impossible, because the prosecutors also have to see and calculate how well their witnesses will hold A year later, Cosby heads for a trial MEL EVANS ASSOCIATED PRESS ill osby leaves after a hearing in his sexual assault case at the on tgomery ount ourthouse in orristo wn, on v. 1.

osby is star ting 2017 in a legal dragnet that has only tightened around him since his stunning arrest a year ago. osby as charged with aggravated sexual assault on ec 30, 2015, just days before the 12-year statute of limitations would have run out over a 2004 encounter at his estate near Philadelphia. Ayearhasgonebysinceour loveandjoyoflifewitheveryoneshemet.She allknowshewillcontinuetoshinedownupon us.Justbecausesheisn’therewithus,doesn’t WeLoveyouandMissyoudearly, AshleyandMatthew. InLovingMemoryof TrudyBeier.