Obituaries
Death of Dolores. M. Ervin
Dolores. M. Ervin, 86, of Belleville, IL, formerly of Eagarville, IL, went to be with the Lord on Monday, September 16, 2013 at 3:30 pm. She died at Relais Bonne Eau Hospice House, Edwardsville, IL. Dolores was born on November 7, 1926, in Eagarville, IL to Pete and Katharine (Bertolino) Conterio.
She married her first husband, Wilbur J. Meyer in 1948 and then W. Kenneth Ervin in 1964 after her first spouse preceded her in death. Both of her spouses preceded her in death. She was a homemaker and a member of the Victory Family Church in Belleville, IL.
Dolores cherished and enjoyed her friends at church and work as well as her neighbors. The family would like to express their thanks to everyone who helped make her life full and beautiful. Dolores loved her family and home but first and most she loved the lord. While she will be missed deeply, the family is secure in the knowledge that she is now walking with her lord and savior Jesus Christ.
Dolores is survived by her daughter: Jeanie (Mike) Hastings of Piasa, IL; sons: Bill (Betty) Meyer of Belleville, IL, Mark (Sharie) Meyer of Glen Carbon, IL; grandchildren: Jackie (Jim) DuPont of Brighton, IL, Jeff (Lori) Hastings of Brighton, IL, Jason (Carrie) Hastings of Brighton, IL, Dan (Jennifer) Meyer of Belleville, IL, David Meyer of Bloomington, IL; great-grandchildren: Dustin & KayeLynn Hastings, Josh & Sarah DuPont, Austin, Alex, Jessie Hastings and her special puppy, Josie.
In addition to her parents and both of her spouses, her sister, Gloria Conterio, preceded Dolores in death.
Friends may call on Friday, September 20, 2013 at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie from 11:00 am until 12:00 pm. Her funeral service will be held on Friday, September 20, 2013 at 12:00 PM at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie, IL with Rev. David Harbison officiating. Burial will be in Benld Cemetery, Benld, IL.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of one’s choice. One could also make a donation to the local humane society in honor of her best friend Josie.
Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, 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.
