Mears, Dona Lynn

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: MEAR.D002
• Funeral: 21 Apr 2023, Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Home, Decatur, Macon County, Illinois

Notes:

Obituary for Dona Lynn Trueblood
Lynn slipped away peacefully in her home at 66 years, 2 months and 19 days old with a house full of family by her side.

Lynn was born on January 25th 1957 in Decatur, IL. She was the daughter of James and Ellen (Bertrang) Mears. Lynn was always a little more wild than her siblings and to her last day she was always heard. Nothing meant more to her than her family. She loved to go camping, fishing and being out on the boat. She loved to be outside working in her yard planting flowers or planting a garden. Lynn has never met a stranger. She would go broke making sure every child she knew had a Christmas and she loved every holiday. Her love for her children, grandkids, and great grandkids went on without any measurement. She would do anything for each and everyone of her kids and grandkids. Whether it was an ear to listen to, advice on life or a place to stay when you're at your lowest, grandmas house was HOME.

Lynn showed up for every birthday party, graduation, baby shower, wedding, bridal shower, cookout or anything she was invited to. She would always make sure everyone had what they needed even if it meant she'd struggle for a while. She always spent her life giving to anyone and everyone.

Lynn worked multiple jobs throughout her life and at times she worked multiple jobs at once. Some of her jobs included Kelly's Potato Chips picking out the burnt chips on an assembly line, R D McMillen cleaning services, Wallace printing services in Clinton with her son Mike, mowed lawns, painting, cleaning houses, detasseling during the summer and babysitting. Lynn's last job before retirement was approximately 20 years ago where she worked at Dewitt county nursing home with her son Buddy. There were times she'd walk 15 miles to work and then back home because she didn't have a car to get there. Since then she's always been a FULL-TIME mom and grandma to all who met her.

Surviving are her children: Buddy Nihiser, Michael Nihiser, Jimmy Nihiser, Amanda Nihiser (Clint). Grandchildren: Cody (Caroline), Haley, Dylan (Heather), Tyler (Alex), Jessie, Devin, Alyssa (Coe), Demitry (Katie), Daelin, Morgann, Caleb, Connor, Patience (Ethan), Madison (Marshall), Demi, Kirsten, Leon, Kylie, Nova, Troy, and Riley Jo Great Grandchildren: Brianna, Dakota, Shane, Xander, Grayson, Rowan, Mabel, Aryanna, and Raeden. Siblings: Barbara, Bill (June), Gloria (Greg aka Littleman), Glen, Penni (Jeff) and Sister-In-Laws: Joni and Tonya. Lynn also had 10-30 adopted grandkids (in her heart). They know who they are and she loved them all like her own.

Lynn was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Dale (Hambone) Mears, Roger Kent Mears and Brother-In-Law William Maglone.

And many others that she considered family.

Family/Spouse: Nihiser, C.O. Jr.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Nihiser, C.
2. Nihiser, M.E.
3. Nihiser, J.C.V.
4. Nihiser, A.D.S.

Family/Spouse: Trueblood. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: MEAR.J001
• _FGRAVE: 39505662
• Military Service: World War II, Technician Fourth Grade, 385th Signal Company, 101st Avaiation, United States Army

Notes:

Funeral services for James B. Mears of 2521 E. Eldorado St. will be at 1 p.m. Friday Brintlinger's Funeral Home, with burial in Macon County Memorial Park. Friends may call in the funeral home after 4 p.m. today.

Mr. Mears, 48, died in St. Mary's Hospital at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Mr. Mears was born March 7, 1920, in Kenney, a son of Ray S. and Opal Walters Mears. He married Jean Bertrang Oct. 27, 1945 in Mount Pulaski. She survives. He moved to Decatur from Lincoln 20 years ago.

He was a truck driver for Purity Baking Co. He served with the Army in World War II. He was affiliated with St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Kenney American Legion Post.

Mr. Mears leaves his mother, Mrs. Opal Mears, Linton; four daughters, Mrs. Everett (Barbara) Shingleton and Mrs. William (Gloria) Reynolds, both of Decatur, and donna Lynn and Penni Sue at home; four sons, William James, Dale Ray, Roger Kent and Glen Allen, all at home; three sisters, Mrs. Kermit (Eva) Wright, Warrensburg; Mrs. Viola Anderson and Mrs. William (Sharon) Stephenson, both of Clinton; a brother, Eldon Mears, Decatur; and one grandson. One brother preceded him in death.

The Decatur Herald (Decatur, Illinois)-Thu., May 16, 1968 - Page 22

Our Mom Ellen Jean Bertrang Mears is now next to our dad
She was B 3-3-1920 D 1-13-2012 at Penni Olson's house in Cisco

Brother Dale Ray Mears is buried about 20 feet southwest of our parents in Macon County Memorial Park.

Funeral:
Funeral services for James B. Mears of 2521 E. Eldorado St. will be at 1 p.m. Friday Brintlinger's Funeral Home, with burial in Macon County Memorial Park. Friends may call in the funeral home after 4 p.m. today.

Military Service:
per his daughter Barbara, he served with the 101st Airborne Division

James married Bertrang, Ellen Jean on 27 Oct 1945 in Mount Pulaski, Logan County, Illinois. Ellen (daughter of Bertrang, William Christian and Shull, Hallie) was born on 3 Mar 1921 in Lincoln, Logan County, Illinois; died on 13 Jan 2012 in Cisco, Piatt County, Illinois; was buried in Macon County Memorial Park, Harristown, Macon County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: BERT.E001
• _FGRAVE: 85111927

Notes:

She was a homemaker and mother of eight children.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: MEAR.R004
• _FGRAVE: 24958056

Notes:

MEARS, Ray S., 72, Clinton, died 7:30a.m. Tuesday, John Warner Hospital, Clinton; leaves wife, Opal; sons, James, Decatur; Eldon, Latham; daughters, Mrs. Eva Wright, Warrensburg; Mrs. Viola Anderson and Mrs. Sharon Stevenson, both of Clinton; brothers, Arnold, Clinton; Ted and Paul, Kenney; Emery, Leroy; sisters, Mrs. Leona Walters, and Mrs. Thelman Jackson, both of Decatur; Mrs. Hazel Clark, Kenney; services 1:30p.m. Thursday, Kenney Christian Church; burial Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Kenney; call after 3p.m. Wednesday, Herington-Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton.
The Herald Daily Review (Decatur, Illinois)-Wed, Sept. 27, 1967-Page 37

Raymond married Walters, Opal. Opal (daughter of Walters, George Frances 'Frank' and Small, Rose May) was born in 1900 in Chrisney, Spencer County, Indiana; died on 28 Feb 1984 in Clinton, DeWitt County, Illinois; was buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Kenney, DeWitt County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: WALT.O001
• _FGRAVE: 24958077

Notes:

Died:
Mrs. Ray (Opla Walters) Mears, 83, of Clinton died 7:05 a.m. Tuesday (Feb. 28, 1984) in her home.

Buried:
section 2

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: BERT.W002

William married Shull, Hallie. Hallie (daughter of Shull, Thomas and Ritchhart, Effie Ellen) was born on 12 Mar 1893 in Elkhart, Logan County, Illinois; died on 22 Dec 1988 in Decatur, Macon County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: SHUL.H002

Notes:

Died:
Died in the home of her daughter, Jean Mears

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: MEAR.W001
• _FGRAVE: 40291175

William married Hutton, Mary Jane. Mary (daughter of Hutton, R. and Swanders, Mariah) was born on 15 Sep 1873 in Shelby County, Illinois; died on 3 Aug 1935 in Tunbridge, DeWitt County, Illinois; was buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Kenney, DeWitt County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: HUTT.M001

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: WALT.F001
• _FGRAVE: 24239434

George married Small, Rose May on 19 Aug 1940 in Decatur, Macon County, Illinois. Rose (daughter of Small, L.M. and Lankford, Z.) was born on 11 Apr 1875 in Ohio; died on 17 Jul 1942; was buried in Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: SMAL.R001

M.M. married Emelick, Emily. Emily was born in Baden-Württemberg, Germany; died on 22 Feb 1894. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: EMEL.E001

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: SHUL.T001

Thomas married Ritchhart, Effie Ellen. Effie (daughter of Ritchhart, Phillip and Long, Nancy Ellen) was born on 30 Oct 1865 in Middletown, Logan County, Illinois; died on 28 Mar 1910 in Mount Pulaski, Logan County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: RITC.E003