CENTRALIA — Cleatis L. Welch, age 96, of Centralia, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 5th, 2024.

She was born on Saturday, April 23rd, 1927 in Bible Grove, Illinois, to the late Frank and Bertha ( Roberts) Specht. Cleatis married Robert Jessup in 1946 and they later divorced. She married Harold Welch in 1970 and he preceded her in death in 1977.

Cleatis is survived by her five children: Connie Sause of Centralia, Patsy Spilios and husband George of Rockledge, Florida , Scott Jessup, Joe Jessup and wife Pam, and John Jessup all of Centralia; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, a grandson: Shawn Sause, and two sisters: Louise VanDyke and Maylene Specht.

She dedicated over 20 years of her life working at the Warren G. Murray Center before becoming a House Mother at the CRC Group Home. Cleatis had a passion for shopping, buying her little treasures from the Salvation Army, animals, putting puzzles together, and flowers. She loved spending time with her family and friends. Cleatis will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

A Celebration of Cleatis’s Life will be held at Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home in Centralia, Illinois on Wednesday, April 10th, 2024, with visitation from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm and the service to follow at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Centralia Humane Society and will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street Centralia, Illinois 62801, (618)532-3523, who is honored to be of service to Cleatis’s Family. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Sutherland Funeral Homes Facebook page.