Anthony “Tony” Rister, age 58, of Carmi passed away Sunday, June 21, 2026, at St. Louis University Hospital surrounded by his loving family after complications from serious illnesses dating to 1995. Tony had been a Type 1 diabetic since age 16. Tony married Kathleen Murphy on October 14, 1986, and together they shared over 39 years of marriage. Tony loved music of all types, listening to audios of books and the Bible, his cats, and woodworking. Before his second stroke, he even made a mandolin.
He is survived by his wife Kathleen; his son Andrew Rister of Haubstadt, IN; his father and stepmother Rod and Nettie Brashier of Macedonia, IL; sister Rachel Brashier (Carlos Batres) of Baltimore, MD; sister Heather (Shawn) Stanley of Macedonia, IL; brother-in-law Kirk (Kim) Murphy of Carmi along with several nieces, nephews and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Jenny and Archie Rister; sister Jennifer Rister; special uncle Richard “Dumpy” Evans; and father and mother-in-law Gene and Inez Murphy.
Tony’s family would like to gratefully thank Dr. Bahar Bastani (Tony’s St. Louis University transplant nephrologist) and the nurses and care partners (Ashley, Benson, Bob, Chris, Ellie, Evangeline, Jim, Mandy, Melissa and Stacey) of wing 7 South at St. Louis University Hospital for their wonderful care of Tony over many years. A very special thank you to Jim Gammons for his care and friendship to Tony over the last three years and Shannon Smith and Leann Fulkerson for taking such great care of Tony. Kathleen and Andrew are especially grateful to the Louisiana family, who in their time of loss, gave Tony the gift of a pancreas and kidney, thus 15 more years of life with his family.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Roberts and Cook Funeral Service in Carmi, 101 Edgewood Lane. A private inurnment will be held at a later date at Big Prairie Cemetery, in Carmi, Illinois. The family asks in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Roberts and Cook Funeral service to assist the family with final expenses and will be accepted at the visitation. Roberts and Cook Funeral Service has been entrusted with arrangements.
