Charles Bonifield Sr.

MARION, Ill. -- Charles Edward Bonifield Sr., 80, of rural Union County, Illinois, died Monday, March 7, 2022, at Parkway Manor in Marion.

He was born Nov. 11, 1941, in Cairo, Illinois, the son of Edward Raymond and Hazel Leigh Grable Bonifield Jr.

Charles was a lifelong resident of Southern Illinois, having lived most all of it in Alexander County. He graduated from Cairo High School and later attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. There he met and married Geneva Elaine Watson, daughter of Ralph and Geneva Duff Watson. They were married for almost 60 years.

The couple has one son, Charles Edward Bonifield, Jr., who married Dawn Leshea Bolen. They have three children, Larrah Leshea Bonifield and twins Caden Lee Bonifield and Charles Marshal Bonifield.

Charles and his father operated Bonifield Farms/Bendview Farms and Hunting Club in Alexander County. During his 80-plus years, he became a well-known and respected resident of Southern Illinois.

He was elected in 1994 to the Alexander County Board of Commissioners, serving as chairman during part of that time. He was a member and chairman of the Pulaski-Alexander County Farm Bureau Board for 15 years. He was a member of the Regional Board of School Trustees for 22.5 years, during which he was vice president for 15.5 years. He was also a member of Cairo Masonic Lodge, Caledonia Masonic Lodge and AINAD Shriners' Organization and the Horseshoe Lake Volunteer Fire Department, as well as numerous other community organizations. He was a member of the Goreville (Illinois) Methodist Church at the time of his passing.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, Illinois. Masonic service will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Buddy Walls and the Rev. Rico Enegesis officiating. Interment will follow in Olive Branch (Illinois) Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be made to the Olive Branch Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 205, Olive Branch, IL 62969. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

To view the full obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family visit www.crainsonline.com.