Denton, T.

Family/Spouse: Monical, R.K.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Monical, M.
2. Fore, D.
3. Monical, Schyler Kevin was born on 16 Jan 1981 in Olney, Richland County, Illinois; died on 26 May 2015 in Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, DuPage County, Illinois; was buried in Clay City Cemetery, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois.
4. Monical, K.

Family/Spouse: Foster, K.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: DENT.J001
• _FGRAVE: 177833300
• Military Service: United States Army
• Funeral: 31 Mar 2017, Frank & Bright Funeral Home, Flora, Clay County, Illinois

Notes:

Joe Denton, age 79, of Clay City, Illinois, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, March 27, 2017, at home surrounded by his loving family.

Joe is survived by his wife: Vera Denton; children: Joel Denton (wife Holly), Tammy Foster (husband Kevin), and Kelly Denton; five grandchildren: Rachel (Shane) Walker, Ben (Ashton) Denton, Matthew (Amanda) Monical, Kalin Monical, and Jesse Denton; five great-grandchildren: Kamry Austin, Eli Walker, Dani Denton, Harper Denton, and Makayla Monical; a sister: Catherine Cunningham; several in-laws including: Dixie Young and Larry Workman; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson: Schyler Monical; three brothers: Hershell, Dale, and Gary Denton; and two sisters: Mary Smith and Lois Payne.

They say many times in life that people of small stature are possessors of the largest of souls, and in the case of Joe Ben Denton, this is true. He was a man who has stuffed a whole lot of living in the 79 years he roamed the earth. Born July 25, 1937, in Clay County, to Ben and Nola Denton, he was the 3rd son of a 3rd son, and began his life in dirt poor conditions as did most folks in those days with the stench of the Great Depression still lingering in America. He saw WWII come and go as a child and entered the Army himself in the 1950’s and was based in Monterey, CA, at Fort Ord. He married the love of his life, Vera Christine Brown, on June 2, 1959. He became the father and hero of three children from 1960-67.

Joe Denton always had a twinkle in his eye, a joke on his lips, and a story to share. He scuba-dived and panned for gold in the American River, rode motorcycles up and down Hwy 1 in California, raced stock cars, motorcycles, crashed derby cars for years, and wrecked more vehicles than most people ever own in their lifetime. He has owned the same truck, motorcycle and house for more than 50 years, and kept the same wife for even longer than that.

He began early in life tinkering with cars and motors and such with the guidance of an older brother and his sister’s husband, George Smith (“Smitty” as he was called), who taught him how to fix a car as well as drive it hard and fast. He was a fair and honest man, who with less than a high school diploma, developed and created his own successful business, J. Denton Auto and Truck Salvage, and for years was known in Clay County and surrounding areas as the man with the purple wrecker. Through that business, he provided well for his family and established a legacy with the famous “purple pickup” which he loved to show off in the local parades for years. The color purple will forever be synonymous with the name of Joe Denton in Clay County.

Later in his 50’s, Joe proudly gained his high school diploma through a GED course and marked that accomplishment off his to-do list. He was a man who loved to have fun, laugh, and make others laugh; he has always been one to grab the bull by the horns. Loving most types of music from Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, and Elvis Presley to his favorite hymn Amazing Grace, he taught himself how to play the harmonica. One of his favorite tunes to play is Red River Valley and has been known to have played an Irish tune on many occasion as the love of his life danced the Irish Jig as he looked on with a twinkle in his eye.

He became the grandpa of six adorable grandbabies between the years of 1981-1998, the oldest of which has blazed the trail to heaven and whom anxiously awaits him on the other side. He is adored by all of his grandchildren, and now, his five great-grandchildren, all of whom he enjoys greatly. Yes, this great man was full of passion and zeal, excitement and enthusiasm, had a deep fervency for life and grit in his gut. He was a lover of nature, and enjoyed being outside, identifying trees and birds and imitating bird calls of all types. He had a spirit of an explorer, a discoverer, a treasure hunter, and a creative and imaginative heart. He loved to write poetry, metal detect, and loved the sun shining on his face. Yes, Joe Ben Denton was a big soul and has left his giant footprint on this world for a long, long time! Just as a beautiful sunset leaves and afterglow long after the sun has actually set, so will Joe Ben Denton’s life indelibly burn an amazing, fiery, colorful streak across the beautiful land of the living for generations to come!

A funeral service for Joe Denton will be 1 p.m. Friday, March 31, 2017, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Interment will be in Powers Cemetery, Xenia, and military honors will be presented. A visitation will be held Thursday evening from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial donations in Joe’s memory may be given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Joe married Brown, Vera Christine on 2 Jun 1959. Vera (daughter of Brown, Oakley L. and O'Brien, Bessie C.) was born on 29 Aug 1942 in Xenia, Clay County, Illinois; died on 1 Sep 2020; was buried on 6 Sep 2020 in Powers Cemetery, Garden Hill Township, Wayne County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: BROW.V001
• _FGRAVE: 215134544
• Funeral: 6 Sep 2020, Frank & Bright Funeral Home, Flora, Clay County, Illinois

Notes:

She took great pleasure in cooking marvelous meals for all of them especially at the holidays at which time she festively decorated her home as well as the homes of others. She enjoyed many hobbies throughout the years such as designing and sewing western shirts, buying and selling antiques, setting up at the flea markets, creating flower arrangements, going to rummage sales, and most of all, gardening. It is an understatement to say she had a green thumb because she could grow anything, anywhere. Throughout the years, Vera created her own beautiful garden and had every flower imaginable, but she especially loved her day lilies of which she had all kinds. One of her proudest moments was when her friend, Jason Delaney from the Missouri Botanical Gardens created a hybrid lily and named it the “Vera Denton.”

She was truly a remarkable woman who could do anything she set her mind to do. To describe her as a hard-working, strong, independent woman is putting it mildly. She had a heart for Jesus and served him faithfully for many, many years. She was very instrumental in multiple fundraisers held by her church and sold many chicken and noodle dinners made by her own precious hands. Vera was an avid Trump supporter and was deeply patriotic. She is a beautiful soul loved so much by so many and will be deeply missed, however, Heaven is rejoicing and so is her lifelong soulmate as they are now reunited eternally.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: DENT.B001
• _FGRAVE: 21121103

Notes:

Died:
Nola's obituary says that Ben died in 1971.

Benjamin married Carlyle, Magnola 'Nola'. Magnola (daughter of Carlyle, William Thomas and Workman, Margaret Magnola 'Maggie') was born on 21 Jul 1904 in Clay County, Illinois; died on 10 May 2006 in Flora Healthcare Center, Flora, Clay County, Illinois; was buried on 13 May 2006 in Rusk Cemetery, Flora, Clay County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Homemaker
• Reference Number: CARL.N001
• _FGRAVE: 18247647
• Funeral: 13 May 2006, Assembly of God Church, Flora, Clay County, Illinois

Notes:

She was a homemaker and member of Assembly of God Church in Flora.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: BROW.O006
• _FGRAVE: 172931992

Oakley married O'Brien, Bessie C.. Bessie was born on 14 Oct 1920; died on 17 Apr 1999; was buried in Powers Cemetery, Garden Hill Township, Wayne County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: OBRI.B001
• _FGRAVE: 172931920

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: DENT.J004
• _FGRAVE: 31606575

Joel married Fender, Rosetta 'Rosa' in 1884. Rosetta was born on 12 Jul 1869 in Owen County, Indiana; died on 31 May 1949 in Mississippi County, Missouri; was buried in IOOF Cemetery, Charleston, Mississippi County, Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: FEND.R001
• _FGRAVE: 114883201

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: CARL.W001
• _FGRAVE: 10539966

William married Workman, Margaret Magnola 'Maggie' on 21 Nov 1897 in Illinois. Margaret (daughter of Workman, Isom and Manson, Margaret) was born on 5 Apr 1879 in Flora, Clay County, Illinois; died on 16 Jun 1967 in Flora, Clay County, Illinois; was buried in Rusk Cemetery, Flora, Clay County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: WORK.M001