Jack Nutt       Send a link to a friend

Archived Oct. 20, 2004

LINCOLN -- Dr. Jack Donovan Nutt, 66, retired president of Lincoln College, died Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004, at 9:50 a.m. at St. John's North in Springfield.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Meyer-Evans Student Center on the Lincoln College campus.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Trinity Episcopal Church, with the Rev. James Cravens officiating.

Dr. Nutt was the president of Lincoln College from 1982 until his retirement in June 2002. He was previously the president of Highland Community College in Kansas.

He was a U.S. Army veteran.

He was born April 12, 1938, at Hanston, Kan., to James and Zella Ruff Nutt. He married Christina M. "Tina" Murray on July 10, 2000, at Boulder Colo.

He is survived by his wife, of Lincoln; two daughters, Anastacia J. (and David) Chittenden of Boulder, Colo., and Jeris (and Joel) Donovan Livengood of Bloomington; one stepson, Clinton M. Smith of Lincoln; one stepdaughter, Samantha M. Smith of Lincoln; and two sisters, Mary (and Glenn) Hubin of Hanston, Kan., and Melba Lang of Pampa, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, James Nutt.

He taught, counseled and coached in Kansas public schools for nine years and in Washington state for two years. After completing his doctorate, he was hired at Highland Community College in Kansas, where he brought North Central Accreditation to the college for the first time in its 109-year history. He served as college president there for seven years before accepting the presidency of Lincoln College.

During his 28 years as a college president, he coordinated construction of 21 new buildings and nine major restorations, established a campus in Normal in 1987, and began the Midwest College of Cosmetology 10 years later.

He served in various capacities with the Commission on Higher Education of the North Central Association, including over 25 years as a consultant-evaluator. He was twice named to the Outstanding American Educators. He served as president of the Kansas President's Association for two years and on the legislative committee for all of his tenure.

After his retirement, he was named President Emeritus of Lincoln College and was awarded an honorary doctorate at the 2004 commencement.

He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, served two terms of master of the oldest Masonic temple in Kansas and conducted several fund-raising campaigns.

He received his bachelor's degree at Fort Hays Kansas State, his master's from Kansas State University and his doctorate in higher education administration at Washington State University.

His hobbies were fishing and golf, both of which he pursued vigorously. He regretted to admit that he was a better fisherman than a golfer but enjoyed both to the utmost.

Memorials may be made to Lincoln College or Trinity Episcopal Church.

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Mary Blackburn       Send a link to a friend

Archived Oct. 19, 2004

MOUNT PULASKI -- Mary Kathleen Blackburn, 87, of Mount Pulaski died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004, at 11:15 a.m. at her home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Mount Pulaski.

Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church of Mount Pulaski, with the Rev. Carol Andricks officiating.

Burial will be in Mount Pulaski Cemetery.

Mrs. Blackburn was a retired registered nurse.

She was born Aug. 8, 1917, at Croft to Charles and Loretta Hauk Gupton Sr. She married Ralph P. Blackburn in Springfield on June 14, 1941.

She is survived by her husband, of Mount Pulaski; one daughter, Janet (and Don) Maxheimer of Mount Pulaski; one son, Jeff (and Peggy) Blackburn of Petersburg; one sister, Charlene M. Brandt of Daytona Beach, Fla.; five grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren; and five great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.

Three brothers preceded her in death.

She was a member of the Mount Pulaski First United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women.

Memorials may be made to her church or to Hospice Care of Illinois.

Click here to send a note of condolence to the Blackburn family.

Esther Otte       Send a link to a friend

Archived Oct. 20, 2004

PALOS HEIGHTS -- Esther L. Otte, 80, of Palos Heights, a Lincoln native, died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004, at 7:10 a.m. at Palos Community Hospital.

Her body was cremated.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Palos Park Presbyterian Community Church. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the church.

Burial will be in Old Union Cemetery, Lincoln.

A memorial service in Lincoln will be on Nov. 27.

Miss Otte was an art instructor at Revis High School in Burbank from August 1956 until her retirement in 1980. She was responsible for the design, planning, implementation, construction and programming for the school's art department, where she served as chairman for 20 years. From 1945 to 1956 she taught at Blue Island Junior High School.

She was born Feb. 1, 1924, in Lincoln to William C. and Emma Von Drehle Otte.

She is survived by one sister, Miriam Bock of Lincoln, and 18 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Henry and Armin Otte, and three sisters, Tryphena Aper, Emma Bock and Bertha Dahmm.

She was a member of the Palos Park Presbyterian Community Church, Revis High School Education Association, Illinois Education Association, National Education Association and Illinois Art Association.

She was a graduate of Lincoln High School in Lincoln. She graduated from Illinois State University in 1945 with a bachelor's degree in education, earned a master's degree in art education in 1962 from the University of Tennessee and took additional classes.

Her hobbies included painting, drawing, crafts and walking, plus traveling. She visited 53 countries, including India, Nepal, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Belgium, Russia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran. She designed, constructed and decorated numerous homes and apartments where she resided. For 43 years she designed a yearly printed Christmas card, also writing poetry. She enjoyed her beloved cat, Boots.

Memorials may be given to Palos Park Presbyterian Community Church, 12312 S. 88th Ave., Palos Park, IL 60464.

Lois Collier       Send a link to a friend

Archived Oct. 19, 2004

MOUNT PULASKI -- Lois Collier, 82, of Mount Pulaski died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004, at 12:45 a.m. at St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Mount Pulaski. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Harley Petri officiating.

Burial will be in Mount Pulaski Cemetery.

Mrs. Collier was dietary supervisor at Lincoln Developmental Center before she retired.

She was born Feb. 28, 1922, in Middletown to John and Lillie Kiper Bruce. She married Harold Collier in Elkhart in September of 1942. He preceded her in death.

She is survived by four sons, Dean (and Susan) Collier of Illiopolis, Ronald (and Pauline) Collier of Falmouth, Ky., Larry (and Linda) Collier of Mount Pulaski and Jerry (and LeeEllen "Bubbles") Collier of Mount Pulaski; one stepson, Harold (and Sandra) Collier of Battle Creek, Mich.; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was also preceded in death by one sister and three brothers.

She was of the Christian faith.

Memorials may be made to Mount Pulaski Ambulance.

Garnet Cross       Send a link to a friend

Archived Oct. 20, 2004

MASON CITY -- Garnet Pearl Cross, 96, formerly of Mason City, died Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004, at 10:45 a.m. at Lakeview Manor, Indianapolis, Ind.

Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church of Mason City, with the Rev. Stephen King officiating. Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. at the church.

Burial will be in Mason City Cemetery.

Hurley Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Mrs. Cross was a homemaker on the family farm.

She was born Nov. 22, 1907, in rural Mason City to Harry and Nettie Webb Frank. She married Russell Cross on Nov. 12, 1923, in Lacon. He died March 9, 1983.

She is survived by one son, Leland L. (and Audrey L.) Cross of Nehalem, Ore.; one daughter, Colleen (and H. Raymond Jr.) Sinclair of Indianapolis, Ind.; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was also preceded in death by one son, Duane.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, to which memorial contributions may be given.