Julie Lynette Sturgill

Julie Lynette Sturgill, 53, of Carterville, went home to be with her Lord, Jesus Christ, on June 21, 2024, while surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 28, 2024, at Murdale Baptist Church, with Rev. Paul Hicks and Pastor Jeff Wiggs officiating. Burial will be in Blairsville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Murdale Baptist Church, then again on Friday, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., at the church.

Memorial contributions can be made to Murdale Baptist Church or to Cambria Christian Church.

Julie was born on November 8, 1970, to Frank and Lucy Rowlen. She grew up in Harrisburg, Illinois.   

Julie was a wife, a mother, a Mimi, a daughter, a sister, but most of all a friend. Her husband Mike was her very best friend. Mike and Julie were days away from celebrating their 32nd wedding anniversary. Together they created a wonderful family. She loved her children, Jessica, Maddie, and Seth, plus all of her precious grandkids more than words can say.  

Julie graduated from SIU with her Bachelor of Science Degree, but becoming a mom was the job that she embraced. She became a homeschool mom so that she could give her kids all of her love and time. She also began the MOPS (Mothers Of PreSchoolers) program at Murdale Baptist Church in 1997 to help other moms in that stage of life.  

Many things can be said about Julie, but one of the most obvious was that she was incredibly compassionate. She would help anyone that she possibly could in their time of need. She wanted everyone that she met to know who Jesus is and would do all that she could to help them see Him. Julie also had compassion for all of God’s creatures, especially the furry ones. She regularly rescued injured or abandoned animals on the side of the road (even a baby skunk, and she had to be talked out of rescuing a baby deer). 

She also definitely had the gift of hospitality. Whether it was for a Christmas cookie exchange or having friends over for a Bible study, Julie’s door was always open and her home was always fully decorated for every holiday. 

Julie would never want credit for who she was without the acknowledgment that it was only because of Jesus Christ. She was keenly aware that without Him, she was completely lost. She loved Him and the Word of God more than anything and would love for you to know more about Him.  

Julie is survived by her husband, Mike; her 3 children: Jessica Goins (Cody), Madeline Avripas (Kyle) and Seth Sturgill (Justina); her grandchildren: Graham, Emberlie, Adalai, Kenley, Maylee, Asher and Elizabeth, (plus her newest granddaughter, Julia, who is due in July); her siblings: Dan Rowlen (Linda), Curtis Rowlen (Kathy), Stanley Rowlen (Regina) & Linda Gordon; plus many other family members and friends.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank & Lucy Rowlen, and her sister, Pamela Parr. 

Anyone who knew Julie would know that she wasn’t at all defined by breast cancer, even though she had battled it since 2015.

She wrote the following in 2019: “My Testimony”  WAKE UP!  The prophetic clock is ticking. We are living in a different time. Read and study God’s Word and don’t get caught up in the culture that you live in (Facebook, Twitter, fashion, wine) Things that waste a lot of our time. All of those things will burn up.  What do you have to do that is really important? -minister to a neighbor or family member? What is God asking you to do?   Repent, forgive, study your Bible!”   -Julie Sturgill

(Those words are only one example of why she will be missed so much by the people that she loved so fiercely.)

Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke Funeral Home in Carterville is in charge of arrangements. 

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