James R. Dawson

KUTTAWA - James R. Dawson, 93, of Kuttawa, formerly of Massac County, Illinois, passed away at 12:22 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center.

Masonic Rites will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at Loftus-McManus Brookport Funeral Home followed by a funeral service with Rev. Jack Russell Officiating. Burial will follow in Metropolis Memorial Gardens.

Jimmy, together with his wife, Beulah, ran Dawson's Grocery in Unionville, Illinois. He also had his own Star Route and retired as a rural mail carrier, was of the Baptist faith, was a member of the Bay City Masonic Lodge #771 since 1954, a lifetime member of the Case Collectors Club, and an honorary member of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

James is survived by his daughters, Belinda Dawson-Bynum, Sheila Wulff and husband Dr. Thomas, and Rhonda Wenk and husband Bud; grandchildren, Donald Fairfield (Leslie), Alecia Dawson-Bynum (Houston Hartman), Stephanie Darnell, and Samantha Wenk-Crum (Gran); numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

James was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Agnes (Dassing) Dawson; his wife of 69 years, Beulah Bee (Tinsley) Dawson.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 5, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Loftus-McManus Brookport Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made in James' name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

Pallbearers will be Bud Wenk, Dr. Thomas Wulff, Donald Fairfield, Stephanie Darnell, Sheadon Allen, and Alecia Dawson-Bynum.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Loftus-McManus Brookport Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.aikinsfarmer-millerfh.com.