Ila Atherton

ULLIN, Ill. -- Ila C. Atherton, 83, of Ullin died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, at Daystar Care Center in Cairo, Ill.

She was born Sept. 8, 1922, in Stoddard County, Mo., daughter of Clarence and Pearl Henson Cooper. She and Phil Atherton were married in 1940. He died in 1971.

Atherton was a retired riverboat cook. She was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church.

Survivors include a son, Bill Atherton of Ullin; two sisters, Flora Helman of Villa Ridge, Ill., Dora Humphrey of Paducah, Ky.; two grandsons; and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, a grandson and two sisters.

Friends may call at Crain Funeral Home in Ullin from 6 to 8 p.m. today.

Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Shiloh Cemetery in Villa Ridge, with the Rev. Richard Martin officiating.