Allen Benton

Allen Benton, 55, of Mattoon, IL, formerly of Flat Rock, IL, died April 19, 2020, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon. He was born December 9, 1964, in Lawrenceville, IL, the son of William Andrew Benton & Ruth Jane (Cook) Parker, both of whom preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Roger Benton. He is survived by his daughter, Kyley Benton; by his brothers, Robert Benton and James Benton; by his sisters, Mary Elizabeth Benton and Tina Blair; by a host of nieces and nephews; and by his friend and mother to his daughter, Regina Gaddis. Allen grew up in the Flat Rock area, where his legendary orneriness was first noticed by family and friends alike. They could attest to the fact that the man loved to kid around, and if you ever had the opportunity to get to know him, you know exactly what I mean! If you did know him, you'd recall a soul who had an abundance of energy the likes of which you'd be hard-pressed to find again. He put this energy to use outdoors, be that through mushroom hunting or fishing. Time at home found him cooking (and, of course, eating) or watching pro wrestling alongside his beloved four-legged friend, Roxana. Though he worked at Lexel in Hutsonville for a time, his side-job was his passion. He was a natural mechanic, and he worked on countless cars and bikes over the years, including his own '71 Nova, which was his pride and joy...that is, until his daughter came along. Kyley brought an all new depth of meaning into his life, and there was no denying the love he had for her. Though he was known to be hard-headed, Allen Benton gave us a wonderful picture of what life can be when it's filled with purpose, laughter, and love. In other words, his was a life well-lived. In light of the CDC's recommendation and the State of Illinois' mandate to limit public gatherings to no more than ten people, there will be no public service. However, Allen's family would like to invite you to take part by viewing the live stream of his service at 2:30 p.m. on Friday April 24th. This can be done on Goodwine Funeral Homes' Facebook page or by going to https://www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/live-stream/live-stream . During this difficult time of private services, you may show your support by joining the "Hugs from Home" program, where your message will be attached to a white balloon in the chapel to remind the family of your love and support. You can send your hug by going to https://www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/services/hugs-from-home . All Hugs need to be received by Thursday at 4:00 p.m.