Memorials
Joyce Mooberry
MORTON – Wilda Joyce Mooberry, 88, of Morton, Illinois, passed peacefully on February 21, 2026, in Morton.
Joyce was born in Peoria, Illinois, to Francis and Berniece (Patterson) Weygandt of East Peoria. She graduated from East Peoria Community High School and attended Illinois Central College.
Joyce and her beloved husband, Buford Mooberry, farmed in East Peoria for more than forty years, building a life grounded in faith, hard work, and devotion to family. They raised their sons, Randall and Dale, with steady guidance and quiet example. As their family grew, Joyce welcomed Andrea and Julie not simply as daughters-in-law, but as cherished members of the family, sharing her wisdom, her garden, her kitchen, and countless conversations marked by warmth and mutual affection.
A gifted pianist, Joyce taught private piano lessons for over thirty years. Many of her students learned more than music – they learned patience and joy. She continued to play beautifully until her final days.
Joyce was also a certified Master Gardener who organized and led garden tours in England, sharing her love of beauty and design. A lifelong reader, she was well known at the Morton Public Library and especially fond of British mystery novels.
She will be remembered most for her sunny disposition and steadfast kindness. Joyce had a gentle way of making people feel welcome and valued.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Buford; and her brother, William Weygandt.
She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Randy (Andrea) Mooberry of East Peoria and Dale (Julie) Mooberry of Morton; her grandchildren, Brandon Mooberry, Casey (Patrick) Brooks, Hope (Dan) Martin, Ethan (Allison) Mooberry, Margaret (Ehren) Ludwig, Caleb (Jessica) Mooberry, and Logan Mooberry; and her great-grandchildren, Warren and Norah Ludwig; Thomas Mooberry; Ben and Joseph Brooks; and Cooper and Nolan Martin, who brought her immense pride and joy. Another great-grandchild, a baby Ludwig, is expected in April. Joyce is also survived by her cousin, Elsie Traenkenschuh, as well as her two black cats, Smokie and Bandit.
Visitation will be held at Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home in Morton, on Friday, February 27, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Visitation will also be held at First United Methodist Church of East Peoria on Saturday, February 28, from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m., with funeral services immediately following at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be this spring at Roberts Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church of East Peoria, the Morton Community Foundation in support of the Morton Public Library, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Joyce’s life was marked by family, music, gardens, and love – a legacy that will continue in the generations she cherished.
Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton is handling arrangements.
To leave an online condolence for the family visit www.knappjohnson.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Brenda Conroy
Brenda Lee Conroy, age 76, of Peoria, passed away on April 7, 2023 at her residence. She was born on June 3, 1946 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Harold and Yvonne (Kennedy) Mortensen. She married Jerry Conroy on September 26, 1975. He survives.
She is also survived by her son, David (Lori) Conroy; two grandchildren, Matthew and Megan Conroy; sister-in-law, Carol (Steve) Garceau; and one nephew, Eric (Jessie) Garceau and sister-in-law Sally Mortensen.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Don Mortensen; brother-in-law, Bruce Conroy; and niece, Erin Timian.
Brenda loved the Lord, Jerry, David & Lori, her grandkids, the literally hundreds of piano students she started, mentored and encouraged for 40 years, music, our Golden Retrievers (6) and golf!
She was an adjunct piano teacher at Illinois Central College (ICC), East Peoria, Illinois for 26 years. She taught Class Piano for music majors and Applied Piano for music students. She also taught Music Theory, Music Appreciation and Class Piano for non-music majors. She achieved a Bachelor degree in Piano from Northern Illinois University, a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Illinois State University and Permanent Professional Certified Teacher of Music in Piano status from Music Teachers National Association. She was a member since 1976.
She performed in Illinois Central College faculty recitals and accompanied other faculty and students. She performed a two-piano concert with a colleague at ICC. She was the staff accompanist at Peoria Woodruff High School for many years and accompanied many of their Gilbert & Sullivan productions.
She was a long time member of Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA), where she was the President from 2003 to 2005. Prior to becoming President, she was the Competition Chair for almost 30 years.
She was very active in the community and maintained a private piano studio in her home since 1978 (45 years!). Many of her students were winners of ISMTA competitions, Bradley Piano competitions and other Illinois state competitions.
She was the Director of Education for the Peoria Symphony Guild for 5 years and was on the Board of Youth Music Illinois (YMI), a part of the Peoria Symphony.
She was a pianist and accompanist for 35 years at Mt Olive Missionary Church, then Northwest United Methodist Church and then Northminster Presbyterian Church in Peoria. Most recently she was the part time pianist at the First United Methodist Church in Chillicothe. “They like me because I play the hymns”
She is also a National Guild of Piano Teachers judge and frequently gave presentations on how to prepare students for competitions.
Many people do not know that Brenda was an Air Traffic Controller for 12 years at Chicago Center in Aurora, IL. Can you say versatile? She was one of the first females to achieve that position.
She is very active throughout the Peoria community performing with local professional organizations and accompanying students for various competitions. She was the piano accompanist for Morton Civic Chorus “Encore”, the fund-raising group for the Central Illinois Memorial Kidney Fund (CIMKF) for many years.
A Memorial Service for Brenda will occur at 3 PM on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at Mount Olive Missionary Church, 5718 North University Street in Peoria. Visitation will occur from 1-3 PM at the church. Pastor Mark Douras will officiate.
Memorials may be made to Mount Olive Missionary Church, First United Methodist Church, 1023 N 6th St, Chillicothe, IL 61523, ICC Educational Foundation, 1 College Drive, East Peoria, IL 61635 or Central Illinois Memorial Kidney Fund, PO Box 235, Morton, IL 61550.
Janice Durchholz
Janice E. Durchholz, 77, of Peoria, passed away on Monday, October 17, 2022, at Bickford of Peoria. She was born on November 12, 1944, in Galesburg, to Wayne and Lois (Olson) Lindsey. She married Victor “Vic” Durchholz, in Peoria, on October 12, 1991; he survives.
She is also survived by her three stepchildren, Melinda Reis of Rhode Island, Bradley (Susie) Durchholz of Houston, TX, and Amy Durchholz of Peoria; her brother, Wayne Rodney (Deloris) Lindsey of Galesburg and her sister, Cheryl Tessman of Grimes, IA; 3 nephews, Scott, Nicholas, and David; and 2 nieces, Dawn and Andrea.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one stepson.
Janice graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in music and started out as a music teacher. She later became a salesperson and branch manager for World Book Encyclopedias, which she did for several years, while teaching piano lessons from her home.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Peoria, with visitation one hour prior to the service, at the church. Pastor Bob Jordan will officiate. Gary Deiters Funeral Home & Cremation Services in East Peoria is assisting the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to Northminster Presbyterian Church, where Janice was a longtime member. Online condolences may be left at www.GaryDeitersFH.com.
Jane Harms
HILLICOTHE – Jane S. Harms of Chillicothe passed away at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, at OSF Hospice Home with her family present.
Jane was born on Sept. 22, 1946, in Colfax, Ill., to Stanley and Dorothy (Bradford) Clark. She married David L. Harms on Aug. 7, 1966. He survives.
She is also survived by her three children, Jennifer Rusk of Dunlap, Janette (Adam) Ackerman of Chillicothe and Matthew (Kathie) of Lacon; and five grandchildren, Zach and Jake Rusk, Alysa and Adison Ackerman and Helena Harms.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Music was a large part of Jane’s life since beginning piano lessons at age five. Her first job in music was as organist at her home church and Harper Funeral Home while in junior high school.
Jane attended Illinois State University as a music major and was assigned to junior and senior music theory classes as a freshman due to her testing out of freshman level classes.
Jane was choir director at First United Methodist Church in Chillicothe for 26 years. She was accompanist for the Illinois Valley Central High School choral program for 21 years participating in choir, madrigal and musical theatre presentations. Her occupation of 31 years was Jane’s Piano Studio, which was run in her home.
She was a member of the Peoria Area Music Teachers Association. She was awarded permanent professional status by the Illinois State Music Teachers Association, which named her Peoria Area Member of the Year in 2007. The Chillicothe Optimist’s Club gave her its Friend of Youth Award in 2007.
Jane enjoyed accompanying the musical productions of Chillicothe Summer Theatre, serving as their president for four years. Having her son Matthew in the orchestra pit with her while her husband, David, was on stage was a great joy to her.
She was a member of Northminster Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Ill., where she participated in the vocal and handbell choirs.
Jane’s family sends their thanks to the many persons worldwide who prayed for Jane during her illness.
Visitation will be held Monday, Jan. 27, at Weber-Hurd Funeral Home in Chillicothe from 5 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be Tuesday, Jan. 28, at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Peoria at 11 a.m. with a one hour visitation prior to the service. Pastor Mike Shirey will officiate. Private interment is to be in Mount Hawley Cemetery in Peoria.
Memorial contributions may be made to Northminster Presbyterian Church, St. Philomena Catholic Church or Guardian Angel Basset Rescue.
Crystal Baldwin
Crystal Ann Baldwin age 77 of Germantown Hills, Illinois passed away at 10:10am Sunday Dec. 15, 2013 at Snyder Village in Metamora. She was born March 12, 1936 in Elk River Township, Minnesota to Glen Mace and Helen Amy (Beck) Gray. She married Arden E. Baldwin on March 23, 1958 in Elk River, MN. and he survives. Surviving are three sons, Mark Baldwin of Spring Bay, Terry (Vani) Baldwin of Germantown Hills, and Scott (Heather) Baldwin of Metamora; Grandchildren, Shridevi Madhure, Matthew Baldwin, Kala Baldwin, Madeline Baldwin, Olivia Baldwin, and Benjamin Baldwin. Also surviving are her siblings, Donald (Barbara) Gray of Cedar Falls, IA., Eleanor (Oren) Delzer of Phoenix, AZ., George (Charlotte) Gray of Edina, MN., David (Karen) Gray of Albert Lea, MN., Lloyd (Carol) Gray of River Falls, WI., Harriet (Ronald) Burley of Elk River, MN., and Dr. Mark (Janet) Gray of Waseca, MN. Two brothers and one sister preceded her in death. Crystal graduated in 1954 from Elk River High School where she was the class Valedictorian and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hamlin University in Minnesota. She enjoyed working outside, and being involved in scouting as a Den Mother. Member of the PEO and Current Events Club and Peoria Area Music Teachers Association. She was a life long piano teacher and was always involved in music from music contests to youth choir director. Crystal was a member of Willow Hill United Methodist where she played piano from the Church?s founding until 2011. Visitation for Crystal will be Thursday Dec. 19, 2013 from 4pm until 7pm at Willow Hill United Methodist Church in Germantown Hills. Cremation Rites have been accorded with a memorial service at a later. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to her Church and or the Salvation Army.
Zoe Rene Worner
Zoe Rene Worner, 85, of Forest City, passed away at Mason District Hospital, in Havana, at 5:06 p.m., on Sunday, November 27, 2022. She was born March 14, 1937, in Chariton, Iowa, to William and Elizabeth (Bower) King. She married Robert Nelson Worner, in Washington, Illinois, on August 10, 1958. He preceded her in death on October 18, 2013.
Mrs. Worner is survived by three children: Chuck (Sandy) Worner, of Midland, Michigan, Michael (Heather) Worner, of Forest City, and Elaine (Mark) Ray, of Chapel Hill, NC; seven grandchildren: Nelson (Bryna) Worner, Mitchell Worner, Scott (Arianna) Worner, Kaytlyn (Stacy) Worner, Alex (Matthew) Gray, Cory Ray and Sam (Natasha) Ray; three great-grandchildren: Ella, Layne and Ryen; as well as siblings, Nancy Pope of Washington and Alan King of Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter: Barbara Worner, and brother-in-law, Gene Pope.
Mrs. Worner graduated from Washington High School. She then attended the University of Illinois, where she met her husband, Bob, and received a degree in Music, with Bronze Tablet Honors. She lived in San Jose, Illinois, until moving to Forest City in 1969. She was a music teacher at Green Valley, Forman and Midwest Central Schools. She also taught private piano lessons and played the organ and piano at Forest City Community Church.
Mrs. Worner was active in DAR, and Forest City Community Church, where she had helped to establish the bell choir. She was an avid supporter of Forman Valley Library. She loved Illini sports, St. Louis Cardinals, cats, music and football. She was a member of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, Illinois State Music Teachers Association and a supporter of local fire departments. Most importantly of all, she loved her family.
Funeral services will be held at Forest City Community Church, on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at Noon. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m., until Noon, immediately prior to the services. Cremation rites have been accorded and a burial will be at Forest City Cemetery at a later date.
There will be a light lunch following the service at Forest City Community Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Forest City Community Church or Forman Fire Department. Online memorial messages may be left for the family at www.hurleyfh.com.
Maas-Hurley Funeral Home in Manito is in charge of arrangements.