a.. Joan Hankins, 91, of Benton passed away at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 8, 2013, at Helia HealthCare in Benton. She was born in Benton on Jan. 11, 1922, the daughter of Joe Harris and Ethel (Easley) Neal. She married Charles E. Hankins on Sept. 25, 1944, in Rochester, Mich., and he preceded her in death on Aug. 28, 2006. Mrs. Hankins worked for many years at the Franklin Hospital Skilled Care Nursing Unit. She was a member of the West City Church of God. Mrs. Hankins is survived by her two daughters, Pamela Jo Webb and husband Lane of Benton, and Brenda Lee Hankins and husband Terry of Benton; grandchildren, Kacie Jo Allen and Mike Gaffney of St. Louis, Audrey Filkins and Shawn Loftus of Thompsonville, Aaron Webb and wife Kristen of Maryville, Nicole Jones and husband Justin of Kentucky, and Jason Johns and wife Liz, serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan; great-grandchildren, Blake Filkins, Pepper K. Loftus (arriving soon), Aaden Webb, Evie Kay Webb, and Sean, Lexie and Wyatt Jones; three sisters-in-law, Mary Kirk of Benton, Louise Hammonds of Michigan and Dorothy Bertetti of Michigan; and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Hankins was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather, Ed Kirk; her husband; one brother, Leon Kirk; and five sisters, Dorothy West, Margaret Kearney, Evelyn Arro, Norma Montoya and Jessie Wilkie. Graveside memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton with Pastor Harol Whitlock officiating. Friends attending the service are requested to meet at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mrs. Hankins’ memory may be made to the West City Church of God or to the Benton-West City Food Pantry. The Morton & Johnston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. b..