Obituaries
Death of Elbert Harold “Butch” Smith Jr.
Elbert Harold “Butch” Smith Jr., 81, of Litchfield passed away at his residence on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. He was born on November 28, 1942, in Wood River a son to Elbert Harold and Opal Irene (Hickerson) Smith Sr.
Butch was a graduate of Wood River High School and a veteran of the United States Navy. He married the former Bonnie Sue Weller on August 10, 1963, in Hillsboro. Bonnie passed away on January 3, 2016.
Butch was the produce manager at the former National Supermarket in Litchfield and at Shop ‘N’ Save Supermarket in Springfield until his retirement. He was a member of the Litchfield Moose Lodge #1634. He enjoyed mushroom hunting and watching football. He also loved his grandkids and was known as “The Best Grandpa.”
Surviving are his daughter, Michele (Tim) Driscoll of Indianapolis, IN; sister, Donna Horton of Litchfield; daughter-in-law, Diane May of Litchfield; four grandchildren, Amy Driscoll of Westfield, IN, Andrea (Danielle) Richardson of Collinsville, Jennifer Driscoll of Indianapolis, IN, and Jonathan Driscoll of Litchfield; three great-grandchildren, Scout, Jasper, & Hailey; and a great-great-granddaughter, Maddie.
In addition to his wife Bonnie, he is preceded in death by his son, Sean Alan Smith, and a sister, Beverly Rauzi.
Funeral services for Elbert “Butch” Smith, Jr. will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. at the Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Burial will be at the Elm Lawn Cemetery with military honors and a visitation will also be at Plummer Funeral Home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Litchfield Veteran’s Memorial Garden Fund or PAWS Care of Montgomery County. Plummer Funeral Services is assisting the family with arrangements.
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Chlorus Donald Jarman III, 46 of Litchfield, passed away on Monday, May 5, 2025, at 9:48 p.m. at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. Mr. Jarman was born in Springfield on December 22, 1978, a son of Chlorus Donald and Donna Jean Jarman Jr.
He graduated from Litchfield High School, then attended college to become a paramedic. He married the former Faye Lee in 1999; they later divorced. In his free time, he enjoyed playing darts and fishing. He was a member of the Zims Rack Pool League and he had acquired many medals and trophies.
Chlorus is survived by a son, Logan Jarman, and two daughters, Corianne Jarman and Caitlyn Jarman, all of Worden.
A memorial service is planned for a later date. Memorials may be directed to the family. Plummer Funeral Home is serving the family.
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Letha Marie Fritz, 66 of O’Fallon, formerly of Staunton, passed away at 8:55 PM on Monday, May 5, 2025, at her residence in O’Fallon. She was born on March 13, 1959, in Staunton, the daughter of the late Harley O. and Maxine (Huett) Williams.
Letha was employed as a production worker at Olin Corporation in East Alton. She was a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union, and was a past member of Cross Community Church in Staunton. She loved to fish, was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, and the #1 fan of her grandchildren!
She is survived by two children, Harley (Nikki) Williams of O’Fallon and Florence (Kenneth) Muhoro of Troy; five grandchildren, Kenia, Zuri, River, Ava, and Davion; three sisters; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters; one brother; two grandchildren; and one niece.
Visitation will be held from 11 AM to 12 noon on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton. A memorial service will follow at 12 noon on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton.
Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.
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Elsie Lucille Street of Litchfield passed away on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 94 years of age on the same date and virtually the same time as her late husband, Lee, passed fourteen years ago. Born January 28, 1931, in Litchfield to the late Charles Cleveland Small and Anna Sophia (Lehnert) Small, she was the first incubator baby at St. Francis Hospital weighing only 3-1/2 pounds at birth.
Elsie was extremely proud of her maternal Dutch-German heritage. Her grandmother, Jenna Muller, was one of thirteen children born to Riclef Peters Muller and Anthye Janssen Helen Detmers in Hage, Norden, Hanover, Prussia, Germany (on the North Sea) in 1858, with the entire family coming to the U.S. by ship in 1883.
Elsie married the love of her life, Lee Gilbert Allen Street, in Hillsboro on February 19, 1949; a marriage that spanned 62 years until his death in 2011. In her early years, Elsie was employed at St. Francis Hospital in the surgery and x-ray departments developing the majority of the x-rays for the victims of the 1948 Bunker Hill tornado disaster. For the remainder of her life she was a devoted homemaker and enjoyed working in her yard and tending her flowers. She was well-known for her “green thumb” and creating a beautiful variety of rare flowers and ferns in her yard.
She enjoyed and was extremely gifted in the arts of crochet, embroidery, painting, making soap, and baking and decorating cakes, cookies and candies. She was a prolific collector of vintage items and loved attending yard and estate sales. Elsie loved visiting with her friends and relatives both in person and on the phone as well as sending and receiving cards and letters. She loved dancing and listening to German Polka music and in her later years, she had a passion for jigsaw and word puzzles and watching cooking shows that featured children cooking or Cake Boss.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Litchfield where she was a member of King’s Daughters, worked in the nursery, and served in many capacities. She loved and honored the Lord and the teachings of the Bible. She was kind to everyone, honest to a fault, but also had a “fiery” spirit. She took care of her mother, stepfather, mother-in-law, uncle, and neighbors when they needed help or were at the end of life. She taught her children to be empathetic, honorable, and trustworthy.
Elsie’s life was defined by generosity – guided by Acts 20:35 (“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’), she often gave away her possessions to anyone she felt was in need. Her gentle kindness touched the lives of many.
It must be noted that Elsie loved each member of her family and all of her friends unconditionally. She was so proud of them and each of their accomplishments and made sure to let them (and everyone else) know.
Until recently, Elsie had been cared for by her daughter and “son”-in-law, Ann and David Allen of Litchfield for the past 13 years. Besides Ann and Dave, she also leaves a grandson, D. Brett Allen and his wife Kellie (Eaker) Allen of Wildwood, MO; one great grandson, Keegan Edward Allen of Wildwood, MO; daughter, Brenda Arter (John) of rural Raymond; and grandson, J. Nicholas Arter, and granddaughter, Abigail Katherine Arter, both who reside in St. Louis, MO. She also leaves several nieces and nephews who she held close to her heart.
Preceding her in death were her parents and husband; her step-father, Norris Sinclair DeWitt of Litchfield; her brother, Charles C. Small, and his wife, Delores of Greenville; her step-sister, Bess (DeWitt) Odle of Litchfield; her beloved niece, Peggy Michelle Miller Odle of Litchfield; and nephews, Robert and Dale Street of Litchfield, and Robert Street of Phoenix, AZ.
A private graveside service for immediate family members and Blessing for the deceased will be held on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11, 2025, with burial in Elm Lawn Cemetery, Litchfield. Lynne Taylor, Ministerial Chairperson of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, will Officiate.
Elsie often said, “Give me flowers when I can enjoy them, not when I have passed.” With that request in mind, the family asks that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to Gillespie Health and Rehabilitation Activity Department, c/o Elsie’s daughter, Ann Allen, Litchfield.
