Obituaries
Death of Lester Paul Brown
Lester Paul Brown, 91, of Litchfield, formerly of Farmersville, died Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at 8:35 p.m. in Heritage Health Therapy & Senior Care in Litchfield. He was born on July 15, 1924, in Farmersville, IL, a son of Frank and Theresa (Coen) Brown.
Lester was born on the family farm and continued farming that same farm that his father had farmed for 66 years until he retired in 1990. He graduated from Farmersville High School with the Class of 1942. He was also a company sales rep for Pioneer Seed Company in Litchfield for 25 years.
Mr. Brown was well known for his prize gardening skills often taking first place with his floral and vegetable entries. He was a member of Holy Family Parish in Litchfield, Knights of Columbus Council #1152 in Farmersville and the Montgomery County Farm Bureau.
Over the years, he volunteered for Meals on Wheels, the Shoal Creek Nature Preserve and St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. He married Doris Jeanette Miller on April 27, 1946, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Litchfield. She survives.
He is also survived by son, Joe Eddy (Lesley) Brown of Wheaton; daughter, Janelle Bartletti of Springfield; five grandchildren, Eric J. Brown of Virginia Beach, VA, Emmy Brown of Chicago, Joseph L. (Jennifer) Bartletti of Mechanicsburg, Nicholas (Jennie) Bartletti of Springfield and Jessica (Daniel) Havens of Seattle, WA; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, James E., Willard J., Bernard L. and Clarence F. Brown; and two sisters, Mary Marley and Blanche Broccardo.
Visitation will be held Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. in Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Funeral mass will be said on Saturday, October 17, 2015, at 10 a.m. in Holy Family Catholic Church in Litchfield. The Very Rev. James L. Neuman, V.F., will preside. Cremation will follow the services. Private inurnment will be in Elm Lawn Cemetery in Litchfield at a later date.
The family suggests memorials to HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield.
Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield 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.
