Obituaries: Barrett

Vista BarrettVista Barrett

Vista L. Barrett, 99 of Chenoa, passed away at 5:30 p.m., Oct. 22 at Evenglow Lodge, Pontiac.

Her funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday at Chenoa United Methodist Church, Chenoa; with Pastor Debbie Honegger officiating.  Burial will follow in Pike Township Cemetery, rural Chenoa.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury.   In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be directed to Chenoa United Methodist Church or the Chenoa Food Pantry.

Mrs. Barrett was born July 28, 1917 in Pike Township; the daughter of Harley and Celia (Murphy) Hepperly.  She married J. Woodrow Barrett on May 20, 1938 in Clinton, Iowa.  Her husband passed away June 13, 1995. Her parents, six brothers and one step-sister also preceded her in death.

Survivors include her two children, Bill (Sharon) Barrett, Carol (Richard) Piercy both of Chenoa; six grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren and seven step-great grandchildren.

Born and raised in Pike Township, rural Chenoa; she farmed with her husband and was proud of her farm heritage. She was an Avon Sales consultant for 20 years before retiring to Chenoa with her husband Woodrow.

Vista was an active member of Chenoa United Methodist Church, Peace Meals, Woman’s Club all of Chenoa as well as a member of the “Bill Betts Kitchen Band”.  She celebrated life on a daily basis and enjoyed being with family and friends, traveling, fishing and spending winters in Florida.

An online guest registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…