Merle Robertson

Merle W. "Duke" Robertson, 70, of Grand Tower, Ill., died Saturday, March 11, 2006, at the Jonesboro Healthcare Center.

He was born Aug. 9, 1935, in Grand Tower, son of Bill and Louis Hatley Robertson. He and Henrietta "Dubie" Carson were married on Dec. 15, 1979, in Grand Tower. She died Sept. 13, 2005.

Robertson worked as a chief engineer on a riverboat and was an iron worker. He served in the U.S. Navy.

Survivors include two daughters, Ronda Robertson of Grand Tower and Ann Marie Drawdy of Brighton, Tenn.; four brothers, Bill Robertson of Jonesboro, Frank Robertson of Effingham, Ill., J.R. Robertson of Carbondale, Ill., and Mike Robertson of Peoria, Ill.; six sisters, Shirley Wells of Grand Tower, Blanch Garms and Sylvia Bradshaw, both of Anna, Ill., Linda Dowdy of Olive Branch, Ill., Donna Lambert of Peoria, Ill., and Mary Van Gilder of Murphysboro, Ill.; two half-brothers, Wesley Robertson of Chester, Ill., and Jeremy Robertson of Kankakee, Ill.; two half-sisters, Lori Williams of Cobden, Ill., and Marilyn Cripps of Grand Tower; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters.

Graveside services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Walker Hill Cemetery at Grand Tower with Rev. John Cripps officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the Carroll P. Foster Post 3455 Anna VFW.

Hileman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.