Ethel Grace Reynolds

Marion- Ethel Grace Reynolds, age 94, of Marion, departed this life at 10:10pm on Friday, May 27, 2011 at the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. Ethel was born on March 30, 1917 the daughter of George and Ida (Tiedeman) Bentzinger. She and her older brother, Ollie, who she adored, were raised in St Louis, Missouri. Ethel first married Howard Fricke in 1934. Their marriage of 17 years produced her first daughter, Barbara Fricke Lawson. While in St Louis, she worked for her fathers company, Midwest Brush, before marrying James W. Brigham. Jim moved the family to Marion, when he started the Diagraph Corporation. It was here that Jim and Ethel were blessed with their second daughter, Betsy Jo Brigham Turner. After Jims death in 1965, Ethel married Raymond Reynolds of Marion. They were united in marriage on March 27, 1966. They shared their life and love for 45 years. Ethel spent her lifetime devoted to her family and friends. She was an amazing woman, who lived a blessed life on her own terms. She blazed the trail when she got her single engine pilots certificate in the early 1940s. Ethel was a member of the Marion Country Club since 1955. She enjoyed her bridge club and worked for Stylart on the square in Marion for 10 years. Ethel loved to work in her flower garden around her gazebo. She looked forward to every spring so she could begin her planting and enjoy coffee on the patio watching her wrens. Ethel was an avid golfer. She was a member at Franklin County Country Club for over 30 years. She spent her summers playing in ladies tournaments, enjoying leisurely rounds of golf on Sunday afternoons with husband Ray, and teaching her grand-daughter, Andrea Turner, her passion and love of the game. Ethel and Andreas special bond through life and golf brought great joy to her. Ethel also loved Cardinals baseball. She watched almost every televised game and always knew the latest scoop on all of her favorite players. Ethel loved the Lord and found comfort in his strength and mercy. She was a Seventh - day Adventist her entire life. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Ida Bentzinger, brother- Ollie and his wife Myrtle Bentzinger, and husbands- Howard Fricke and James W. Brigham. Left to cherish her memories and mourn her passing include her husband- Raymond Reynolds of Marion, daughters- Barbara Lawson and Betsy and Jeff Turner of Marion, Grandchildren- Michelle and Tony Nunes of Las Vegas, Nevada, Cheryl Renee Mateker of Pacific, MO, Andrea Turner and Cheryl Endres of Carbondale, Stephen Turner of Louisville, KY, stepchildren-James R. Brigham and wife Mary of Hilton head, SC, Phillip and Lois Reynolds of Davenport, Iowa, and Linda Reynolds of Marion. She is also survived by six great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11am on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home in Marion with Mr. Danny Bentzinger officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion. Visitation will be held from 5-8pm on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at the funeral home. For those who prefer, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association. Envelopes will be available and accepted at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home; 800 N Market Street; Marion, IL 62959.