Obituaries
Death of Betty Jean Craddick
Betty Jean Craddick, 88, of Benld, died at her residence on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 9:10 am. She was born June 7, 1936, in Gillespie, to Jeanie Steed. She married Harry Craddick on September 25, 1954, at the Gillespie Methodist Church.
She was a homemaker who enjoyed anything involving her family, especially doting on her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband Harry Craddick, her two sons, David (Betty Lynn) Craddick of Litchfield, and Robert (Anna) Craddick of O’Fallon, grandchildren, Jennifer Spitznagel of Litchfield, Michael (Tanya) Craddick of Glen Carbon, Bradley (Rachael) Craddick of Edwardsville, Timothy Craddick of O’Fallon, Michelle (Derek) Petrich of O’Fallon, Lindsay Craddick of O’Fallon, and Jennifer (Alex) Scherschel of Richmond, VA, great-grandchildren, Tanner (Samantha) Roeske of Litchfield, Casey Roeske of Litchfield, Hailey Robbins of Litchfield, Christina Craddick of Glen Carbon, Nora Craddick of Edwardsville, and Graham Petrich of O’Fallon, great-great-grandchildren, Cruze and Jami Roeske of Litchfield, and other extended family.
Betty was preceded in death by her mother, Jeanie Steed; her brother, Jim Steed, sister, Gladys O’Connell; and great-grandchild Angelina Craddick.
Friends may call on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Benld from 9:30 am until 12:00 noon. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at noon at Kravanya Funeral Home in Benld, IL. Burial will be in Benld City Cemetery in Benld. Memorials are suggested to Benld United Methodist Church, 209 S Main Street, Benld, and the Gillespie Area Caring Center, 100 South Macoupin Street, Gillespie. The family wishes to thank Mary Cunningham for her invaluable dedication to Betty over the last several months, Kathy Hausman, and the staff at Home Instead and Vitas Healthcare.
Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home, Benld, 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.
