77- year-old Larry Jay Gwaltney passed away, surrounded by family, at his home in Benton, IL on Monday, February 16, 2026, ending a lengthy battle with cancer.
He grew up in the Mill Shoals area of White County, Illinois.
He worked in photography at SEMO in Cape Girardeau and taught at Fairfield High School, Allendale High School, Gillespie High School, Webber High School in Bluford, and Carmi-White County Middle School. He retired from teaching in 2009 and then worked as a night custodian at USI until 2013. While teaching, he also served as bi-vocational pastor/supply preacher in several rural churches.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 19, 2026, followed by a celebration of life service at 1:00 P.M. at the Morton & Johnson Funeral Home in Benton, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN or Adult Teen Challenge Mid-America (directed for Deborah’s House, the new facility for women) in Cape Girardeau, MO and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com
