William Carlton Batteau

William "Bill" Carlton Batteau, 74, of Vergennes, died at 3:50 a.m. on Monday, March 4, 2013 in St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro, Ill.

He was born March 18, 1938 in Elkville, Ill. the son of Clifford "Doc" and Helen (Carter) Batteau. Bill was united in marriage to Marilyn Sue Gregory in Murphysboro on Dec. 21, 1963 and she survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Kevin (Gail) Batteau of Pinckneyville, Ill. and Craig (Staci) Batteau of Murphysboro, Ill.; two sisters, Georgia (Denis) Ross of Elgin, Ill. and Mary Ellen Willoughby of Wichita, Kans.; one brother, John (Janet) Batteau of Du Quoin, Ill.; four grandchildren, Luke and Grant Batteau of Pinckneyville and Brook and Macy Batteau of Murphysboro; aunts, Mary Kias of Terre Haute, Ind. and Manetta Smith of Nashville, Ill.; sisters-in-law, Glenda (Ronnie) Cheatham and Linda (Jack) Brown of Ava, Ill., Charlene (Fred) McDaniel of Steeleville, Ill., Debbie (Dale) Schumer of Coulterville, Ill., Cheryl Baker of Murphysboro, Ill., Olamae (Don) Batteau of Sandia, Tex., Gloria (Clifford Jr.) Batteau of Muscatine, Iowa and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; son, Kenneth Stephen, brothers Clifford Eugene and Donald Ray; sisters, Sharlet Piper and Dorothy Jean and in-laws, Charles and Earline Baker.

Bill was a member of Faith United Methodist Church in Vergennes. He was a 50-year member of the Desoto Masonic Lodge #287, along with being a member of the Murphysboro Elks and Murphysboro American Legion; he was also a member of the Central Cemetery Board of Trustees.

Bill graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale with a B.S. and M.S. in Education. He was a retired teacher from the Elverado School District, having taught 24 years (science, social studies, health and driver's education) and a member of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association. At Elverado, he also served as Athletic Director and coached Baseball, Basketball, Football and Track. Additionally, Bill had served on the Elverado School District Board. He then served on the John A. Logan College Board from 1984-1997.

Bill was a veteran, having served four years in the U.S. Army Security Agency with a lengthy assignment in Japan. He also worked two years in the Jackson County Circuit Clerk's Office as Chief Deputy Circuit Clerk in Murphysboro and 14 years as a Plant Electrician for Consolidated Coal Mine #5 at DeSoto, Ill. Bill served many years as the Village Clerk in Vergennes, Ill. and was the Financial Secretary of U.M.W.A. Local #2216.

Bill was well known as a "Sorghum Maker," a producer of sweet sorghum, one of only a handful remaining in Southern Illinois. He belonged to the National Sweet Sorghum Producers Association for many years. His other interests included gardening, genealogy and talking to everybody he met.

Services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at Crawshaw Funeral Home in Murphysboro, Revs. Angie Baughman and Larry Gilbert will officiate; burial will follow at Central Cemetery near DeSoto with Military graveside rites by American Legion Post 127 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7190 both of Murphysboro V.F.W. Post 2605 in Carbondale and Jackson County Disabled American Veterans Chapter 69. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at the funeral home, Masonic rites will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Memorials are encouraged and may be made to American Cancer Society or Faith United Methodist Church. To send a condolence or for additional information, visit www.crawshawfuneralhome.com.