Obituaries
Obituary of Violet Mae “Vi” Stein
Violet Mae “Vi” Stein, 96 of Staunton, passed away peacefully at The Glenwood in Staunton on Thursday, February 6, 2025. She was born on March 19, 1928, in Livingston the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George and Dorothy Spudich.
She graduated from Livingston High School in 1946. Surviving is her husband Alvin Stein Jr., who she married on October 29, 1955, at Sacred Heart Church in Livingston.
Violet was gentle in spirit, yet loved others in incredibly bold ways. She was a dedicated servant, continuously caring for those in her community, and was creative in how she did so. She put others before herself, and she loved like Jesus asks us to love. Vi always saw and spoke about the good in everyone.
Violet loved to laugh and always had a smile to offer. She had a quick wit, surprising those around her. Violet had a genuine happiness for life that will be always cherished.
Vi loved to dance, spending much time when she was younger at Tarro’s Coliseum in Benld. She and Al were even seen dancing in their apartment at The Glenwood. She enjoyed watching basketball on TV with her husband and she always cheered for the underdog. She liked going to watch her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their activities and always cheered for them too.
Violet followed the stock market closely. She was the first independent female client of her stockbroker in Jacksonville, IL. She was proud of her home and spent time caring for their home and yard.
She worked as a secretary in St. Louis and then later for Four Rivers Special Education in Jacksonville. After retiring, she and Al moved back to Staunton and together they owned and managed several rental properties. Vi was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church of Staunton.
Violet had a strong devotion to her family. There is no one she loved more than her husband Al and vice versa.
In addition to her husband, Violet is survived by her three children, Alan (Liliann) Stein of Downers Grove, IL, Nolie (Rocky) Mayberry of Hamel, and Wendy (Mike) Coyle of Peoria; nine grandchildren, Eric (Katie) Stein of Downers Grove, Benjamin Stein of Downers Grove, Jennifer (Tyler) Oberkfell of Troy, Jason Mayberry of New Douglas, Kathleen (Kevin) Francoeur of Edwardsville, Sean (Jami) Coyle of Gurnee, Jesse (Caitlyn) Coyle of Pekin, Carly (Brandon) Bohmer of Edwardsville, and Casey Coyle of Jonesboro, AR; ten great grandchildren; her brother, John (DeeMana) Spudich of Granite City; her brother-in-law, Marvin (Kathy) Stein of Staunton; her sister-in-law, Betty Stein of Staunton; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Violet was preceded in death by her parents; her grandson, Alphonzo Stein; her brothers, George (Lynette) Spudich and Roy Spudich; two sisters-in-law, Shirley & Beulah; and her brother-in-law, Fred Stein.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 11, 2025, from 5 to 7 PM at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton. A funeral mass will be held Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 10:30 AM at St. Michael Catholic Church in Staunton with Father Tom Hagstrom officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Staunton.
Memorials are suggested to either St. Michael Catholic Church of Staunton or to Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Livingston.
Comments
Robert Leeroy Blevins, 77 of Litchfield, passed away the evening of Thursday, November 20, 2025, at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. He was born in Litchfield on December 24, 1947, a son of Robert James and Betty Bernadine (Cranford) Blevins.
He graduated from Centralia High School and proudly served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era. He was employed for many years as a cabinet maker with Adenca Manufacturing in Litchfield. Robert enjoyed many outdoor activities including camping, fishing, hunting, mushroom hunting, and looking for buried treasures with his metal detector.
He was a talented musician and played guitar and saxophone. Robert enjoyed watching and listening to all spectator sports and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. He married the former Wanda Kay Large and they later divorced.
Robert is survived by sons, Christopher (fiancée Grace) Blevins and Jason (Jamie) Blevins, all of Litchfield; daughters, Jennifer (Gordon) Fenton of Salem, MO and Shannon Large of Litchfield; brothers, Chesley Blevins of Staunton, Joseph Blevins of Litchfield, Floyd Blevins of Highland, and Fred Blevins of Litchfield; sisters, Barbara (Ray) Schuster of Sorento, Sharon (John) Wickerheim of Chicago, and Pamela Poppenhouse of Litchfield; and several grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Robert J. and Betty B. Blevins.
Funeral services for Mr. Blevins will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Pastor Gilbert Dealey will officiate. Burial will be in Crabtree Cemetery. Military honors will be at graveside. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to the family of Robert Blevins, c/o Christopher Blevins. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements.
Comments
Joyce Carleen Simmons, 83 of Litchfield, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, November 23, 2025. She was born in Pana on May 31, 1942, a daughter of Carl Cornelius and Lucille Romelta (Miller) Brakenhoff.
She was a member of the Litchfield High School graduating class of 1960. She married Raymond “Larry” Simmons on June 6, 1965, at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, and they enjoyed nearly 55 years of marriage until his passing on January 23, 2022.
Joyce was an excellent cook and well known for her beef and noodles, Texas cake, and stew. Joyce’s delicious cooking skills were evident during her 22-year career as manager of Jubelt’s Variety Bakery in Litchfield and as a ten-year cafeteria worker for the Litchfield Community School District #12. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, tending to her fruit trees, and sewing. Joyce enjoyed serving others by teaching Sunday School at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield and volunteering for the local Meals on Wheels.
Joyce is survived by her sons, Raymond (Vicki) Simmons of Evansville, IN and David (Jacqueline) Simmons of Haymarket, VA; daughter, Laura Simmons of Edwardsville; brothers, Leslie (Sue) Brakenhoff of Litchfield, Byron (Terry) Brakenhoff of Chattanooga, TN, and Dale (Nancy) Brakenhoff of Litchfield; sisters, Ramona Warman of Charleston, IL and Marilyn (Don) Loptien of Fort Collins, CO; grandchildren, Zachary Simmons, Makenzie (Jeremy) Frazier, Emma Simmons, and William Simmons; and great-grandchildren, Gunnar, Wyatt, Eli and Calla.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Rev. Larry Brakenhoff and Bernard Brakenhoff; brother-in-law Robert, “Bob” Warman; and niece, Kimberly (Brakenhoff) Bergman.
Funeral services for Joyce will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Burial will follow in Edgewood Cemetery in Litchfield. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Road, St. Louis, MO, 63141-8557. Plummer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
