Audrey Lanier Orr

 Audrey Lanier Orr

The daughter of Glada and Albert Johnson, Audrey Lanier Orr was born on April 20th, 1921, on a farm south of Rankin, Illinois. Audrey spent her early childhood in the Potomac and Rankin areas. When she was 8 years old, she moved to Fithian, Illinois where she finished her grade school years. She graduated from Oakwood Township High School in 1939.

She married Kenneth Orr, (from Homer Illinois) on June 7th 1941, at the Fithian Methodist Church. Together they had 3 sons: Richard, Ronald, and Donald. During the first years of their marriage, they lived on a farm south of St. Joseph IL. They moved to St. Joseph in 1964, and both found work at the University of Illinois. Audrey proceeded to work there until she retired at the age of 80. Audrey spent 25 years working in accounting and then worked part-time for 16 years in the NCSA.

She was a member of the St. Joseph Methodist Church and Seniors group, the Danville Iris Chapter of the Easter Star, and was once also part of the St. Joseph Garden Club. She made many good friends while being involved in the community and her work. She would like to give thanks to all of those she holds dear. She would also like to thank the girls who kept her flower garden beautiful, the two that took her to lunch and shopping, her Houston friend, and all her caregivers and visitors. A special thank you goes to her great friend/handyman and who she referred to as her 4th son, Bob Silva.

She is survived by her two sons: Richard Orr of Champaign IL, and Donald (Judi) Orr of Sonoma CA; her 3 grandchildren: Sean (Barb) Orr of Mahomet IL, Bryan (Debbie) Orr of Hanover Park IL, and Jennifer Caramucci (Gary Wilbanks) of Novato, CA; and her 7 great-grandchildren: Zachary and Matthew Orr, Kai Nelson-Orr, Julia and Sara Klein, McKenna and Garrett Caramucci. She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth and her son Ronald and his wife Margaret.

Memorial donations on her behalf can be made to:

The St. Joseph IL Library 201 N 3rd Street, St. Joseph IL 61873

St. Joseph Fire and Rescue 228 E. Warren St, St. Joseph IL 61873

Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at Freese Funeral Home, St. Joseph.  Burial will be at GAR Cemetery, Homer.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7PM, Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at the funeral home. 

Freese FH 8/25/2025

Judith E. Valentine Harris

 MAHOMET — Judith E. Valentine Harris, 84, of Mahomet joined her loved ones who were waiting to welcome her to her eternal home on F r i d a y , June 21, 2024, at Carle Hospital, Urbana, with her best friend at her side.

Services will be held Thursday, June 27, 2024, at First Baptist Church, 402 S. Elm Street, Mahomet, with visitation from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and an Eastern Star funeral service provided by Hope Chapter Order of the Eastern Star at 12:45p.m., followed by a funeral service with Pastor Bruce Swartz officiating. Interment will be in Ingram Cemetery, Wagon Wheel Road, White Heath.

Judy was born Jan. 10, 1940, in White Heath to Verna E. Hassinger Valentine and Gerald J. Valentine. She attended Monticello High School. She married Robert D. Harris on June 9, 1957. He died October 28, 2005. They had two children, Tamara J. Harris and Gerald D. Harris.

She was predeceased by her parents, both children, two sisters and an infant brother.

She is survived by two grandchildren, Lee A. (Heather) Walters of Summertown Tenn., and Danielle Walters of Elwood, Ind.; nine great- grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; two nieces, Kathy (Dan) Thomas of Hanover, Pa., and Louella Bishop of Urbana; many cousins; and her “guardian angel,” Doris Lawyer of Champaign.

She treasured the time she got to spend with her grandchildren, whether in person, by phone or sharing pictures on Facebook.

Judy and Bob owned and operated Upholstery Specialists of Champaign for 35 years, where her eye for color and design and sewing skills were put to good use!

Judy never met a stranger, always had a smile on her face and a great sense of humor. Her memories of riding motorcycles across the United States with friends brought her great joy.

She also had a special love for children of all ages. She worked with drug-prevention program “Hugs Not Drugs,” meeting with gradeschool kids around the state, and loved to recount her escapades while dressed as a 6-foot bear; she also drove a school bus and worked as a custodian in the Mahomet school district until retirement. She loved music and had a beautiful voice.

In 2017, Judy moved to The Glenwood Assisted Living in Mahomet. There she started an exercise program, led sing-a-longs, headed up arts-and-crafts projects, called bingo and redecorated the building for each holiday and season. Judy loved to crochet and made countless blankets, shawls and hats for infants in neonatal intensive- care units.

Judy was a 55-year member of First Baptist Church in Mahomet, where she taught Sunday school and led a children’s choir, and she started a summer Bible school program at Candlewood Estates that continues today.

She is a 48-year member of Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Matron in Mecca Chapter and Hope Chapter, Urbana. A highlight of her life was being appointed as Grand Representative of Kansas in Illinois in 2007.

The family would like to thank the dedicated staff at The Glenwood for providing such love and care and the Grand Lodge of Illinois’ Illinois Masonic Outreach Services for their assistance.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to First Baptist Church of Mahomet, 402 S. Elm St., Mahomet, IL 61853; Order of the Eastern Star, Educational Trust Fund, P.O. Box 317, Macon, IL 62544; or The Grand Lodge of Illinois, Attn: IMOS Program, 2866 Via Verde, Springfield, IL 62703. Morgan Memorial Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be offered at morganmemorialhome. com.

NG 6/24/2024