Canton – George Patrick Medeiros born March 17, 1925 in Provincetown, MA passed away August 16, 2019 at St. Dominic Jackson Memorial Hospital, he was 94 years of age.

During World War II, George served as a Gunners Mate aboard the USS Franklin in the South Pacific for the U. S. Navy. When he returned from the war he was a commercial fisherman for several years. He then flew for Pan American Airlines before flying for the U.S. Customs in Homestead FL until retiring after 19 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, and step-son.

Survivors include: wife Esther Thomas Medeiros of Canton; sister, Janie Heckert (Mel) of Canton, Ohio; niece, Debbie Wolfe of Gulfport; and nephews, Glynne and Ronny Gulledge of Gulfport.

Visitation will be at Breeland Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 from 10:00 am until the 11:00 am chapel service.

Dorris Wells “D.W.” Wilson, age 87 of Stephens passed away Sunday, December 29, 2013 at Silver Oaks Nursing Home in Camden. He was born October 6, 1926 in  Stephens, AR to Fred Wells and Thelma Louise (Sawyer) Wilson.

D.W. was a longtime member of Sulpher Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Before his retirement he made his living as a machinist for Mobil Oil Corporation. Before his health failed, D.W. loved being outdoors working in the yard, gardening or fishing. His hobby was restoring old furniture and woodworking. His greatest joy came from spending time with his family. D.W. served his country during WWII on the USS Franklin (CV13). On March 19, 1945, D.W. became a member of 704 Club (Survivors) when his ship came under attack 50 miles off the coast of Japan and claimed the lives of 724 of his crew members. For his service D.W. was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (Presidential Citation), the Asiatic Pacific Area Bronze Star and the Victory Medal. He will forever remain in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved him.

Preceding him in death are his parents, two brothers, Billy Ray Wilson and Norman Lamar Wilson.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, JoAnn Wilson of Stephens, AR; three sons, Norman Ray Wilson and wife, Vickie of Lumberton, TX, Ronald Wells Wilson and wife, Karen of Buna, TX, Robin Timothy Wilson and wife, Donna of Colmesneil, TX; step daughter, Claudia Wooldridge and husband, Danny of Springdale, AR; step son, Luther Miller of Stephens, AR; brother, Jack Albert Wilson and wife, Joanna of Springdale, AR; sister, Frances Louise Freeman and Mike of McKinney, TX; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Funeral services will be at 10:00AM Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jack Wilson and Bro. Jamie Venable officiating. Burial and Military Honors will follow at Stephens Cemetery under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Magnolia.

Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 5-8PM at Bailey Funeral Home in Magnolia.

In Lieu of flowers memorials are requested to Sulpher Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church, C/O
Mearl Darden, 3225 Ouachita #2, Louann, AR 71751.
Sign our online registry at http://www.baileyfuneralhome.net

Frank J. Bertinetti, 94
Posted Wednesday, October 23, 2019 10:49 am
Frank John Bertinetti, 94, of Raymond, formerly of Nokomis, died Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, at the Illinois Veterans Home in Manteno.

Visitation will be held Thursday, Oct. 24, from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Girard. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at the church with Father James Palakudy officiating. Graveside services will be held at 1:45 p.m. at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Taylorville. Calvert-Ferry Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Bertinetti was born Feb. 11, 1925, in Jeiseyville, a son of Dominic and Mary (Cambruzzi) Bertinetti. He married Norma Jean “Tootsie” Stivers in 1952, in Nokomis, and she preceded him in death in 1963. He later married Joan Finnefrock in 1973, in Raymond, and she preceded him in death in 1984.

A WWII Navy bomber escort pilot, he was stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Franklin during WWII. He worked as a forklift operator prior to his retirement from Caterpillar Tractor, Inc. He worked as a funeral director’s assistant for Hough Funeral Home in Raymond, and in his later years, he worked for Calvert and Ferry Funeral Homes in Auburn, Girard and Virden.

A member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Girard, he was a member of the Auburn Knights of Columbus, the Masonic Lodge in Morrisonville, the Scottish Rite, Blue Lodge, the Answar Shrine Temple in Springfield, American Legion Post #94 in Nokomis, 40 and 8, Fraternal Order of Police in Springfield and the Illinois Sheriff’s Association.

He is survived by his niece, Rebecca DiClemente; nephews, James (Debra) Bertinetti and Dominic Bertinetti III; sister-in-law, Doris Bertinetti, all of Tinley Park; special friend, Leona Hacker of Girard; several great-nieces and great-nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents and two wives, he was preceded in death by a brother, Dominic “Buck” Bertinetti, Jr.

Memorials may be made to donor’s choice.

Online condolences may be left at http://www.calvert-ferryfuneralhomes.com.

James Carl Graffam died in Portland, Maine on August 4, 1995. James served on the USS Franklin and was a member of the 704 Club. After the war he returned to Portland, Maine and worked his entire career at the S.D. Warren Paper Mill. He was married to his wife, Mary, for 55 years. He had one son, James. He would seldom talk about his experience on the USS Franklin but when did it would be about how brave the crew was after the devastating attack and how everyone did what needed to be done to save the ship regardless of their actual navy specialty. He was very proud of his service in the U.S. Navy. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Westbrook, Maine.