This photo was taken a few days ago, but the weekend forecast is for the 50s.  Time to kick off the camping season.

The Southern Illinois Unit’s Craig & Deronda have escaped the cold Illinois winter and headed to southern Utah.

The Southern Illinois Unit lost a wonderful woman.

BENTON — Elwanda Dalton Lockin, 88, passed away Thursday morning Feb. 12, 2015, in Benton.

She was born April 4, 1926, in Paducah, the daughter of Edward Carl and Rose Helen (Ryan) Dalton.

She married George William “Bill” Lockin on Aug. 21, 1949.

Mrs. Lockin was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Benton. Mrs. Lockin was an operating room registered nurse at the Miners Hospital in Christopher, then was the office nurse for Dr. J.P. Durham in Benton.

Mrs Lockin is survived by her husband, George William “Bill” Lockin of Benton; three children, David Lockin and wife, Jennie, of Lilburn, Georgia, Karen Bachus of Marietta, Georgia, and Jane Hutson and husband, John, of Brentwood, Tennessee; six grandchildren, Matthew Lockin of Phoenix, Jonathan Lockin of Statesboro, Georgia, Avery Bachus, and Meredith Dixon, both of Marietta, Georgia, Madelyn Hutson, and Kathryn Hutson, both of Brentwood, Tennessee; three great-grandchildren, Savannah, Scarlett and Ozzy.

Mrs. Lockin was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Robert Dalton; and three sisters, Geneva, Glynn and Ruth.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, in First Unted Methodist Church in Benton, with Pastor Shane Smith and Jim Muir officiating. Burial will be in Masonic and Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Morton and Johnston Funeral Home in Benton, and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at the church.

For more information or to sign the online guest register, visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com.