SESSER – Linda J. Eller Lewis Kman, of Sesser, IL, passed away peacefully, after a brief illness, on June 6, 2025, at 9:17 p.m., at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, IL., surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 14, 1943, to the late Harry R and Hazel E Eller, in Mount Vernon, Illinois.
On October 20, 1965, she married Eddie B. Lewis of Sesser. They had 4 children and raised them on their farm, located just east of Sesser, Illinois. They instilled strong family values and roots, creating a very close-knit family, who remains very close to this day. After 32 years of marriage, Eddie preceded her in death on March 31, 1997. Linda lived on and worked the farm she and Eddie built together for over 60 years. She loved the farm and all the memories attached to it. She vowed she would not leave that farm until her death, and she kept that vow.
She married Ronald Kman of Carlyle, Illinois, on December 3, 2003. She and Ron enjoyed making crafts together and taking them to flea markets to sell. Ron preceded her in death on March 18, 2024.
To know Linda was to love her. She enjoyed her farm, gardening, shopping, sewing, crafts, 50’s music, and playing Bingo. Many of her bingo friends still carry the bingo bags she has made over the years. She never met a stranger and would strike up a conversation with almost anyone she saw. Often, you would find her handing out her hand-made keychains, crosses, bag holders, and other items she had made, to acquaintances and sometimes, even strangers. She wouldn’t take any money for them but would say the payment for the item was a “hug and a smile.” She always got the hug and the smile, and even a little conversation which always made her happy. She was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and loved watching basketball and other sports events on television.
Linda was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sesser, having accepted Christ as her Savior more than 50 years ago.
She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by her four children, Rhonda R. (Lindsey) Aldridge of Okeechobee, FL, Johnnie R. Lewis of St. Petersburg, FL, Nancy A. (William) Brown of Sesser, IL, and Teresa D. (Derrick) Raney of Swansea, IL.
She also leaves behind six grandchildren, Adam W. (Amy) Cash of Volo, IL, Ellis M. (Abbie) Aldridge of Rancho Cordova, CA, Rebecca L. Brown and Sandy Mae Brown of Virginia, Jared A. Raney and Jordan M. Raney of Swansea, Illinois. She also leaves behind one great grandson, Jackson W. Cash of Volo, IL.
Additional survivors include several nieces, nephews, friends, and a dear family friend, Father Oliver Nwachukwu of Dubois, Illinois.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, Eddie and Ron; her sisters and brothers in-law, June (Jack) Sullivan, Esther (Larry) Leffler, Iris (Eddie LaFave); her brothers, Floyd (Betty) Eller, Charles (Earlene) Eller, Marvin Eller; and infant brothers, Harry, Dickey, and Bobby. Additionally, she was preceded in death by her father in-law and her mother in-law, John and Edith Lewis; her sisters in-law and brothers in-law, Florine Lewis, Erma (Jesse) Simmons, Maxine (Lindell) Conner, Margaret (Bob) Purdy, Leota Curry-Guthrie (Lowell Curry & Charlie Guthrie) and Eva Lewis. She was also preceded in death by a son in-law, Dwayne B. (Lewis) Tillman Jr., and a great- nephew, Michael Burja.
Visitation for Linda will be on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home, located at 102 West Callie Street, in Sesser, Illinois. The funeral service will commence at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel immediately following the visitation. The burial service will take place at Horse Prairie Baptist Church Cemetery in Sesser, Illinois, immediately following the funeral service. There will be a pot-luck reception following the burial service.
