Obituaries
Death of Marie Louise Pursell
Marie Louise Pursell, 86 of Litchfield, passed away on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at 6:24 a.m. at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. She was born on June 26, 1936, in Worden a daughter of Paul and Louise (Homier) Albrecht.
She graduated with Livingston High School’s class of 1955. She attended the Central Illinois School of Beauty Culture. She married Ronald H. Pursell on June 26, 1965, at St. Timothy’s United Methodist Church in Litchfield. Mr. Pursell preceded her in death on November 30, 2020.
Mrs. Pursell enjoyed fashion. She was employed in Litchfield by Sydney’s Women’s Wear for 25 years until its closing, Clothes-Go-Round, Kirlins, and Glik’s. She enjoyed volunteering at Heart United and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. She was devoted to her family and took a great interest in all of her grandchildren’s activities.
Mrs. Pursell is survived by her daughters, Connie (Brad) Frerichs and Tina (Winston) Grabner, both of Litchfield; her grandchildren, Courtney (Nick) Wood, Casey Frerichs, and Tayler (Zach) Shelton; and her great-grandchildren, Serenity, Tori, Colin, Heaven, Jayde and Eleanor.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three brothers, Irvin Albrecht, Paul Albrecht, and Raymond Albrecht; and an infant sister, Ruth Marie Albrecht.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield with Rev. Mike Rogers of Litchfield Southern Baptist Church officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service from noon until the time of service.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Litchfield High School Student Assistance Fund. Interment will be at Cedar Ridge Cemetery in Honey Bend.
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Lois Ilaine Erspamer Sawyer, 94 of Gillespie, died at her residence on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 9:51 am. She was born on February 9, 1930, in Gillespie to Louis Poi and Bertha Annetta Sunman Poi Lewis.
She married John Peter Erspamer on September 4, 1950. He preceded her in death on November 24, 1989. She married Dempsey Sawyer on May 15, 1993, and he preceded her in death in 2016. She had been a bookkeeper for Duracraft and Daley’s Chevrolet. Lois enjoyed reading, gardening, painting, drawing, cooking, traveling, bird watching, adventures, her family and her beloved cat, Molly.
She is survived by her children, Ann (Timm) LaRoche of Gillespie, Joan (Paul) Alexander of Gillespie, and Lynn Erspamer of Litchfield; grandchildren, Shannon (David) Wright of Gillespie, Suzanne (companion, Josh) DeMartini of Madisonville, KY, Jared (Amanda) Johnson of Staunton, Adam (Ashli) Alexander of Gillespie, Travis (Laura) Mize of Dallas, TX, Britini Bernardini of Nokomis, and Marissa (Jacob) Summers of Litchfield; great grandchildren, Macie, Isabel and Alexander Wright, Joseph and Gino DeMartini, Brianna Johnson, Ansley Alexander, Lucas and Jeffrey Bernardini, Fisher, Sabrina and Gabriella Crow; great great grandchild, Dominic Joseph “DJ” DeMartini; sisters, Patricia Thompson of Carmel, IN, Phyllis Dodd of Pooler, GA, and Marion Boston of Springfield; and brothers, Ernie Lewis of Carbondale and Fred Lewis of Ft Meyers, FL.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, spouses, and brother, John Lewis.
Private services will be held. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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