Obituaries
Death of Jesse “Lee” LeRoy Lyerla
Jesse “Lee” LeRoy Lyerla, 92 of Carlinville, formerly of Roxana where he lived for 39 years, passed away Monday morning, August 7, 2023, at Lakeside Health Care in Carlinville. Lee was born on July 12, 1931, in Venice, IL, a son of Jesse Leo and Opal (Binning) Lyerla.
He attended Madison High School. On June 26, 1954, he married Mildred “Millie” Schwab at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Carlinville and was married for 69 years. Lee proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean conflict and was given the Purple Heart award.
Lee retired in 1994 from the Olin Corporation in Alton as a ballistics technician. He enjoyed gardening and playing golf. He was a member of St. Mary and Joseph Catholic Church, Carlinville and a mass server for 18 years serving for three different priests. While in Roxana, he was a member of the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church Wood River, a 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus, and Guy Baird American Legion Post #554 of Carlinville.
Lee is survived by his wife, Millie Lyerla of Carlinville; daughters, Karen (Jesse) Rivera of Cumming, GA, and Denise Malham of WoodRiver; six grandchildren, Jason, Dustin and Ryan Gimmy, Ashley Malham, Nicole Hanselman and Michael Retzer; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Ann Duiver of NC; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and two sisters.
Visitation will be held on Friday, August 11, 2023, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Davis-Anderson Funeral Home, Carlinville. A prayer service will be recited at 3:30 pm. Mass of Christian burial will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at Ss Mary and Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will follow in New Calvary Cemetery, Carlinville.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary and Joseph Building Fund, St. Vincent DePaul Society, or Famly’s Choice. Davis-Anderson Funeral Home, Carlinville is in charge of 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.
