Obituaries
Death of Cheryl Lynn Cavallo Ph.D.
Cheryl Lynn Cavallo Ph.D., 66, of Saint Louis, MO, died at her residence on Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 1:18 pm. She was born on December 16, 1946, in Litchfield, IL to the late Paul Jack Cavallo and Victoria Helen (Mazely) Cavallo.
Cheryl was a retired assistant professor emeritus of physical therapy at St. Louis University. She was a passionate Billiken basketball fan. Cavallo received her undergraduate, master’s and doctorate degrees from Saint Louis University and was a member of the faculty for 32 years, retiring in 2011.
During her tenure, she received multiple awards for teaching and service including the prestigious Nancy McNeir Ring award, which is the University’s highest award for teaching excellence; the 2011 Doisy College of Health Sciences Alumni Merit Award; and 2011 Saint Louis University Woman of Achievement Award.
Cheryl was a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, Missouri Physical Therapy Association, Alpha Sigma Nu/Jesuit Honors Society and a Health Volunteer Overseas.
She is survived by her beloved companion, AJ Dunn, brother, Larry (Gail) Cavallo, sister, Terry Cavallo, niece, Caroline Cavallo, nephew, Skyler Cavallo, cousins, Michael Phillips, Toni Phillips, Pamela Kluethe, Sandy Greenwalt Spence, Becky Greenwalt, Stephanie Mazely, Pat Cavallo Bolt, Mary Lou Cavallo Turcol and Dixie DeVries.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 2 at Saint Francis Xavier College Church, 3628 Lindell Blvd., at Saint Louis University. A visitation will be on Sunday, March 3, 2013 at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, March 4 at 10 am at SS Simon & Jude Church, Gillespie, Ill with Monsignor Larry Auda and Fr. George Radosevich officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Gillespie, IL.
Gifts in Cheryl Cavallo’s memory may be made in support of the mission of the Physical Therapy program at Saint Louis University and will be used for purposes reflecting Cheryl’s passion and lifetime commitment to the education of her students and their preparation in the Jesuit tradition to become men and women for others.
Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, IL is in charge of the arrangements.
Doctor of PhilosophyThe Psychology Wiki: Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D., an abbreviation for the Latin "Philosophiæ Doctor" or alternatively "Doctor philosophiæ", D.Phil. →
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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.
