Ralph "Red" Eugene Morthland

Ralph Eugene "Red" Morthland, 79, of Murphysboro, passed away at his home in Murphysboro at 7:39 a.m. Saturday, January 22, 2011. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 29, 2011, at Elm Street Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Allen officiating with military services conducted by the American Legion Post # 127, V.F.W. Post # 7190 and 2605, and the Jackson County D.A.V. Chapter # 69. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Pettett Funeral Home and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to Fairview Cemetery fund, Elm Street Baptist Church building fund, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, or to Goodbread Cemetery. Ralph was the son of Samuel E. and Irene (Skuta) Morthland of West Frankfort, where he was born on September 20, 1931. Ralph graduated from West Frankfort High School in 1951, and he attended his 60th Class Reunion in November. He was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corp during the Korean Conflict. He worked at SIU in Central Receiving. He is best known for his love of singing gospel music. He sang with the Missionaires Quartet in the early years of his life, and with the Church Street Singers in the past few years. He sang at nursing homes and assisted living homes for the past several years. He especially loved singing solos in the "Monthly Night Singings" at local Southern Illinois churches. Mr. Morthland was a member of Elm Street Baptist Church in Murphysboro and a former member of the First Baptist Church in Grand Tower. Ralph married Imogene Pierson on July 21, 1962, in Murphysboro, Illinois, and she survives. Other survivors include one daughter Lynda Morthland Pfautsch and her husband Mark and their daughter Claire of Cape Girardeau, MO; two sons Samuel Morthland and his son Blake, Blake's mother Lorie Martin and her son Tyler and Ryan Morthland and his wife Laura (Bunselmeyer) and their daughter Lily, all of Murphysboro; He is survived by three sisters and their husbands Irene and Walter Hehner of West Frankfort, Madeline and Angelo Lamatina of St. Louis, MO, and Gretta and Charles Homuth of Glen Ellyn, IL; and his brother and his wife Charles and Patricia Morthland of West Frankfort; Ralph is survived by five brothers-in-law and their wives Bill and Thelma Pierson, Rick and Lynn Pierson, John and Karen Pierson, all of Murphysboro, David and Diana Pierson of Jackson, MO, Mike and Jayne Pierson of Milton, Wis.; one sister-in-law and her husband Sue and Robert Matz of Grandview, MO. He also leaves behind his very close friend Milas Ray Morse, Jr. Also surviving are 22 nieces and nephews, and many great nieces and great nephews, his aunt Charlotte Niehaus, and his uncles Dick Skuta and John Skuta. He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father in law Bert and Helen Pierson, one sister-in-law Rose Pierson, one nephew and one great nephew. Ralph will be greatly missed by all!

Ralph "Red" Eugene Morthland

September 20, 1931 - January 22, 2011