Obituaries
Death of Alta Mae Cunningham Crabtree
Alta Mae Cunningham Crabtree, 82, of Dorchester, IL died Friday, June 29, 2012 at St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield, IL. She was born on July 3, 1929 in Ruble, MO to Arvel Skaggs and Lela (Beaver) Skaggs Skiles. She later married Jerry D. Crabtree on November 18, 1985 in Carlinville, IL. Alta was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Bunker Hill, IL.
Mom was the essence of what unconditional love is. She never once put herself first – it was always about others. Her capacity to give love was amazing -it didn’t matter who you were or what you had done she loved you. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren more than life itself and showed us every day how special we all were. For 27 years she shared her love and her life with her wonderful husband.
She leaves behind her spouse: Jerry Crabtree of Dorchester, IL, children: Marie (Dick) Robinson of Springfield, IL, Taris “Bob” (Lorraine) Cunningham of Bethalto, IL, grandchildren: Minette (Mike) Wilson of Bethalto, IL, Dawn (Damon) Peterson of Bethalto, IL, Justin Cunningham of Bethalto, IL, Joe (Seanna) Malek of Springfield, IL, Jason (Karly) Malek of Springfield, IL, and great-grandchildren: Dylan Wilson, Morgan Wilson, Kaitlyn Peterson, Taylor Peterson, Addie Malek, Alena Malek, Claire Malek, Joe Malek, Siblings, Wanda Lou Kelley of Annapolis, MO, Verna (Russ) Collins of Annapolis, MO, Cordell Skaggs of Ellington, MO, Burnell Skaggs of Ruble, MO.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother: Burnice Skaggs and brother: Willard in infancy.
Visitation is on Monday, July 2, 2012 at Kravanya Funeral Home in Bunker Hill from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm.
The funeral is set for Monday, July 2, 2012 at 1:00 PM at Kravanya Funeral Home in Bunker Hill. Burial will follow at Bunker Hill Cemetery in Bunker Hill, IL. Pastor Matt Foster will be ministering the services. The family suggests memorials to be made out to her grandchildren.
Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com
Kravanya Funeral Home, Bunker Hill, IL is in charge of the arrangements.
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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.
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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.
