Cheyrl June (Henderson) Ventress, 83, of Dale

Cheyrl June (Henderson) Ventress, 83, of Dale, Illinois,  the daughter of Robert McKee Henderson and Gladys Zelna Wheeler was born on 23 June 1943 in Crook Township, Hamilton County, Illinois, at the home of her maternal grandparents Theopolis and Octavia Wheeler. She departed her earthly life and joined her previously departed parents and grandparents in the Kingdom of the Lord on 16, October 2026 while a patient at StoneBridge Memory Care Facility in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Further, Cheyrl was preceded in death by her half-brother, Billy Don Stewart and Billy Don’s Wife Venita (Smith).

Cheyrl is survived by:

· Her Husband, USAF Colonel (Ret), John Denton

· A Daughter, Andrea Marie McCord (Russell), Zephyr, TX

· A Son, Robert Denton (Monica), Troupe, TX

· A Second Daughter, Christina Lee, MD (Shannon), Franklin, IL

· Four Grandsons, Brady, Cam and Will Cummings (Abby), Springfield, IL

And Denton Ventress, Houston, TX

· Two Granddaughters, Emily Trinque (Will), Lebanon, TN and Abigail

Hyde (Ross), Cedar Creek, TX

· One Great-Granddaughter, Halle Renee Hyde, Cedar Creek, TX

· A Brother, Rick Henderson (Sherry), Dale, IL

· Several Nieces and Nephews

After 4 years of dating and a one-year engagement, Cheyrl and John were married on 21 September 1963 at New Salem Baptist Church, Dale, IL., exactly 5 years after their first date on 21, September 1958.

Cheyrl was, foremost, a magnificent wife, mother, homemaker and an extraordinarily wonderful friend. She often said, “Home is where the Air Force sends us!” Some of her many Air Force homes included a 38’x8’ trailer in Libya, North Africa, from their a 2-bedroom, second story apartment in Ankara, Turkey, followed a few years later by a small 3-bedroom Oriental house on the Island of Okinawa, Japan. Several years and homes across the United States later, a wonderful 3 story 1930s, Southern-Style Mansion in Louisiana. Many times, she had to act as the father and mother as John’s duties called him away. Thusly, the children often said, “Home is where Mom is!”

Cheyrl’s many friends date back to her early days as a student at Dale Elementary School, Dale, Illinois. Several of her classmates admiringly admitted, years later, without Cheyrl’s help they would not have advanced to their next grade level. That distinguishing quality never left her; as she was always willing to help. Cheyrl had many highlights in her student years; she excelled at all levels of her education. Her proudest moment was being crowned the Champion of the 1953/54 Hamilton County Spelling Bee, representing Dale Elementary School.

Cheyrl was an avid National Basketball Association (NBA) fan! She kept track of the standings and who was who in each conference from the beginning season Tip-Off to the final buzzer in the Championship Series.

In January 1993, after more than 27 years, Cheyrl and John retired from the Air Force and returned home to Southern Illinois and Hamilton County. Cheyrl could usually be found tending to her gardens at their 133-year-old home, she proudly called “The Painted Lady.”

Visitation will be held at Harre Funeral Home from 10:00am to 12:00pm on Saturday, 24 October 2026 with funeral service to follow immediately at 12:00pm. Entombment will be held at Odd Fellows Cemetery, 705 E. Randolph St. (Illinois Route 14) McLeansboro, Illinois.

Floral tributes are welcome and memorial donations may also be made to StoneBridge Mount Vernon, 1400 South 34th Street, Mount Vernon, Illinois 62864.