Ellen Rose Benton

Ellen Benton

Ellen Rose Benton (nee McLawhon), age 74, of Troy, Illinois passed away peacefully at home on Friday, March 11, 2011 with her husband and children by her side. She was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina in October 8, 1936 to Mark H. and Augusta B. McLawhon (nee Dixon), who preceded her in death along with her four brothers Mark, Charles, Joseph and Jimmy McLawhon and her two sisters Betty Pennington and Jean Underwood.
Ellen is survived by her loving husband "Bill" Floyd Benton, whom she met on Valentines Day 1958; her dear children Kathleen (Teresa) Benton, Karen (Kirby) Nance, Susan (Robert) Stamper, Mark (Teresa) Benton; beloved grandchildren Jennifer and Joshua Nance, Samantha JoEllen Stamper; great-grandchild Brooke Nance; a sister Mildred Harris;  brothers Ricky and Billy McLawhon and many nieces and nephews.

Early years on her parent’s dairy farm helped Ellen develop work ethics that followed her through life. Her attitude, behavior, understanding, compassion and empathy allowed her to interact and communicate with people at all levels. She has worked at hospitals in North Carolina, Alabama and Illinois. She retired from Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Illinois after 20 years and worked at Unity Hospice in Collinsville, IL for 15 years until her retirement in October 2010 due to illness.
Ellen enjoyed sunrises and sunsets, especially when walking alone on the beach in North Carolina. The sounds and closeness of the ocean energized her, and she often dreamed of living near the coast and writing novels. She shared her love of travel with her children, and took each on individual trips to North Carolina.
Ellen’s family would like to thank Unity Hospice for all the love and kindness shown Ellen and the family, especially by Briana, her friend and final caregiver.
A Celebration of Life is being planned for her in Illinois and North Carolina.
Ellen always wanted everyone to succeed and be the best they could be. A fitting memorial to her memory would be to give someone a flower, a hug, a pat on the back or some encouraging words.
Please leave condolences, memories and messages of care and love below.

28 Comments

  1. Bill Benton on March 15, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Sweetie-Pie was my valentine for 53 wonderful years. She will ccontinue to warm my heart with love forever.



  2. Kathy on March 15, 2011 at 12:00 am

    I miss you. What a beautiful difference you made in my life. You’re in my heart, Mom.



  3. Terri Ennis on March 15, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Kathy, your Mom was a wonderful woman and she is part of the reason you are so awesome! Seeing her picture reminds me of how vibrant she was, and together with your Dad, they made awesome memories and had great adventures. I know you miss her, you always will, but keep your eye on nature, she will find a way to say hi sweet daughter. Love and hugs, Terri



  4. Carolyn McLawhorn Aycock on March 15, 2011 at 12:00 am

    What a wonderful loving lady she was. She was one of my favorite cousins. My love to all of her other family members and friends. How blessed we all were to know her.



  5. Marcia Sutton on March 15, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Ellen was an extremeley beautiful person on the inside and out. For many years, she was like a second mother to me and for that I thank her. I truly admired her strength because she WAS a strong, southern lady who always tried to see the good in everything and everyone. You will be greatly missed and forever loved by so many. Thank you for touching my life.



  6. Bill Farris on March 16, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Ellen was such a wonderful person. I worked with her at Unity Hospice and you could not ask for a better co-worker. I am a richer person having known her. She will be dearly missed.



  7. Ralph and Darlene Jobe on March 16, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Bill and Children:
    Please and accept our sympathy on the loss of your wonderful wife and mother. We pray that she is looking down on all of us from heaven in peace and tranquility.

    A poem in honor of Ellen, may she rest in peace.

    “It is only a tiny rosebud,
    A flower of God’s design;
    But I cannot unfold the petals
    With these clumsy hands of mine.

    “The secret of unfolding flowers Is not known to such as I.
    GOD opens this flower so easily, But in my hands they die.

    “If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
    This flower of God’s design,
    Then how can I have the wisdom To unfold this life of mine?

    “So I’ll trust in God for leading
    Each moment of my day.
    I will look to God for guidance
    In each step of the way.

    “The path that lies before me,
    Only my Lord knows.
    I’ll trust God to unfold the moments,
    Just as He unfolds the rose.”



  8. Joyce and Mike Gerdzos on March 16, 2011 at 12:00 am

    We all loved Ellen so much. What a wonderful,sweet kind person she was. She will truly be missed by all of us but will be forever in our thoughts.



  9. Susie on March 16, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Mom was such a sweet and caring gentle soul…she touched so many lives in a positive way. I’ll always cherish our time together and I miss you so much! Love,Susie



  10. Jason Winchell on March 16, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Her kindness will be remembered and sorely missed by everyone. She always cared and listened even though it was not her problem. I’ll never forget how she mended my back after I rolled down Swallow Cliff and landed on a tree stump.



  11. Kem Markway on March 16, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Ellen was such a kind and caring person. I have such fond memories of her. She will be missed but I know she is in heaven with my mom & dad having a good time.



  12. Teresa Babcock on March 16, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Ellen will always be in my heart! Last year, on my birthday, I was stuck in a wheel chair with a bum knee, and she helped me get out on the deck. She sat and talked with me for hours. I’m so glad I have that time with her! She will be missed by so many!



  13. Jim and Bernice Benton on March 17, 2011 at 12:00 am

    BILL, KATHY, KAREN, MARK and SUE:

    Ellen will be forever missed at all our family gatherings. When Bernice’s Holstein calves would meander towards the barn it would instill Ellens memories of her folks dairy business. She has always been an integral part of events that make life worth living.
    A gracious person who will forever be missed but not forgotten.



  14. Caroline Kennedy on March 17, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Bill and Children: How lucky I was to have Ellen as my Aunt. She always offered encouraging words from the heart. She always had a smile and soft caring words which made you feel loved when you thought no one else cared. Ellen will be missed and forever loved by all she met. My love and prayers to Bill and kids.



  15. Billy McLawhon on March 19, 2011 at 12:00 am

    My sister Ellen loved me.I love her.She looked after me and cared about me always.When I consider how our wonderful savior loves us all,I will think about how my Big sister loved us too.REJOYCE dear sister in Gods presance with our loved ones.We will meet again.



  16. Dave and Mary Kay Winchell on March 19, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Bill, Kathy, Karen, Mark and
    Susan — Another gentle and loving soul was called home.
    Ellen was the sweetest and kindest woman and was always there with kind words and an ear to listen to you. She helped our family greatly in
    getting through some rough times. That was just her – always caring. She will be missed on earth but the woman she was will continue to live on and encourage us in life for many years. We love you all.



  17. Millie Harris on March 22, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Bill, Kathy, Karen, Mark, Sue: Thinking of you with empathy. No one can truly comprehend the individual loss that each of you feels for your Ellen – – the sadness, that “empty place”, the longing …. Only time can soften this “blow” to one’s heart/being. Ellen was always there with comforting/encouraging words and actions for support. Strong, tender, empathetic, beautiful inside and out, my little sister Ellen Rose was indeed a blessing for us all. Oh, how I miss her!



  18. Samantha JoEllen Stamper on April 6, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Grandpa, we will always remember her in our hearts and I love you guys so so so so much.You are both the best grandparents I will ever have and I always pray thinking about you guys and my family
    With Love,
    Sammie JoEllen
    P.S. i am blessed to carry on ellens( grandmas ) name



  19. Joshua Nance on April 10, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Grandma was one of the most intelligent, compassionate, beautiful, and funny people that in my 30yrs i have ever met. Memories of her will live on in me and the stories i tell to my daughter and her children later in life. I miss her terribly but we can all find solace in the fact she is now in a better place. I love you grandma and i always will.



  20. Karen Benton Nance on April 10, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Mom, I miss you every day. You made being Wonderfull look easy. I love you so much. You’re a precious combination of grace, love & intelligence; always caring and loving. You were stoic thru heartaches and humble in triumphs; always considerate and wise beyond your years. Your spirit & lessons are deeply embedded in me and my family. I know the lives you have touched are blessed to know you. I will share your Light and your Love.



  21. Kirby Nance on April 10, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Mom, it was my lucky day when fortune made me part of your family. You were my most trusted adviser, a very eloquent debating buddy, but most of all, my friend. I love you, my dear friend.
    Rest easy.



  22. elbert "DGoc" Benton on April 11, 2011 at 3:22 pm

    The memories of this beautiful, intelligent lady will remain with me forever. She was always such a joy to be around, and my wife and I enjoyed the many times we spent together.
    Now the two of them are together again,in Heaven,
    enjoying worry free and care free times.

    Love and payers always.,
    “Doc” Benton



  23. Kathy on March 11, 2015 at 6:13 am

    It’s been 4 years without you and I miss you so. I love you, Mom



  24. Kathy on March 11, 2016 at 12:29 am

    Still missing you, Mom. Keeping the memories close, thank you for being my Mom. Love, Kathy



  25. Jean Eddy on November 11, 2017 at 11:04 pm

    Kathy,
    Do you know the Kem Markway that posted on here? I think she’s a friend of mine from high school and I’d like to get in touch with her.
    My email is secrtgardn@hotmail.com



  26. Kathy on May 13, 2018 at 9:23 pm

    It’s Mother’s Day, 2018. Miss you, Mom ….



  27. Kathy on March 11, 2021 at 5:38 pm

    10 years today. ???? Miss you. ❤️ ????



  28. Kathy on March 15, 2022 at 8:32 pm

    And now, beautiful Mom, Daddy will be up there with you. I was sure he was going to go the same day as you, Mar 11th, but he left the 10th … We miss you both, we love you, we will take the lessons you both taught us and soldier on.



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