Lorraine B. Highlander Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Lorraine B. Highlander, age 101, of Marion, IL, passed away peacefully at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, February 3, 2020, at her home. She was born on Tuesday, January 14, 1919, in Staunton, IL, the daughter of William and Verna Aimee (Dubree) Brown. Lorraine attended school in Staunton and was a graduate of Staunton High School at the age of 17. She continued on with her education by attending Illinois College in Jacksonville, IL, where she received her teaching degree by the age of 19. After graduation she began teaching school for a time until her marriage. She was united in marriage to Gilbert H. Highlander on Wednesday, May 6, 1942, in St. Louis, MO and together they shared over 56 years of marriage until his death on Sunday, May 24, 1998. After her marriage, Lorraine remained at home raising her daughters, managing her home, and seeing to the needs of her family. Later after her family was raised, Lorraine worked part-time as a bookkeeper for Midway Disposal for over twenty years. Lorraine had many hobbies. At an early age she learned how to stitch and taught herself how to make garments by taking apart her doll’s cloths to be used as a pattern for new clothes. She sewed for her family and home until she could no longer see from the ravages of macular degeneration. She loved photography her entire life and delighted in later years with the darkroom her computer provided. Lorraine was a very accomplished self-taught water-color and oil painter. She also was a member of the Monday Morning Tai Chi Class held at the Marion Library for many years. In her spare time played bridge, golfed with her husband, and learned how to do stained glass in her eighties. Gib and Lorraine were avid ballroom dancers, traveling all over southern Illinois and into Kentucky looking for a place to dance. Lorraine once said she married Gib because he was a good dancer. After Gib passed, Lorraine joined the line dancers at Pittsburg and the Marion Senior Center. Lorraine was very proud of her volunteer work with Girl Scouts. Early on she was a troop leader and then served several years on the board of Shagbark Girl Scout Council, operating out of Herrin. In 1984, Lorraine became a Charter Member of the Marion Garden Club, a membership she held until her death. Her latest work in the Garden Club involved Garden of the Month and taking pictures of tour homes. Lorraine’s love of gardening grew from her mother. The joy of planting seeds indoors in February got her through the winter. And the stress relief of trimming bushes and deadheading got her over being mad about something. Lorraine loved to travel. She and her husband traveled the U.S. going to over 40 Elderhostel trips. They traveled to Australia and China on a People to People Exchange Program. Lorraine loved to learn. Lorraine loved her family and especially enjoyed being with her grand and great-grand children. She is survived by her two daughters and son-in-law, Lee Cicciu of Northbrook, IL and Lynn and Bill Love of Creal Springs, IL; three grandchildren, Carrie Cicciu-Singer and husband, Robert of Vernon Hills, IL, Jenna Dickson and husband, Dan of Northbrook, IL and Nick Love of Marion; seven great grandchildren, Meghan Singer, Emily Singer and Tyler Singer all of Vernon Hills, IL, Jack Dickson and Lyla Dickson both of Northbrook, IL and McKenna Love and Nico Love both of Marion; sister-in-law, Florence Nemnich and husband, Jared of Edwardsville, IL, several nieces, nephews, other extended family and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brother, Kenny Brown. Arrangements have been entrusted to Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, 900 N. Court St., Marion. The visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 7th, at the funeral home. The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2020, at Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery of Marion. For those who prefer, memorial contributions may be made to “Hospice of Southern Illinois” and/or “Marion Senior Center” and mailed in care of Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, 900 N. Court Street, Marion, IL 62959. Memorial envelopes will be available at the funeral home. For additional information call the funeral home at 618-993-2131.

Lorraine B. Highlander

January 14, 1919 - February 3, 2020