Obituaries
Death of Mary Kathleen Cox Michel
Mary Kathleen Cox Michel, 88 of Hillsboro, formerly of Gillespie, died at Hillsboro Rehab & Health Care, Hillsboro on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at 6:13 p.m. She was born on June 19, 1932, in Princeton, IN to Courtney Willis and Esther Lorene (Jones) Willis.
Mary was an avid member of the Assembly of God Church. She raised and nurtured four generations.
She is survived by her sister, Dexter Loveless of Oatsville, IN; brother, Adrian Willis of Petersburg, IN; son, Ollie Cox, Jr (Toni) of McCalla, AL; daughter, Patricia Montoro of Panama, IL; granddaughter, Tina Fairchild and her children, Jason and Rachel; grandson and prodigal son, Jacob Adam Amos (Felicia) of Arnold, MO and their children, Jayden, Faylinn, Luna and Jack; granddaughter, Courtney Massey of Pevely, MO and her children, Theodore, Beau, Marleigh and Corbin; granddaughter, Angela Odorizzi (Josh) of Litchfield; grandson, Brent Aydt (Paula) of Preston, CT and their children, Ashley, Kathleen and Michael; granddaughter, Christina Merritt (Shane) of Newfields, NH and their children, Nicholas, Noah and Ella; grandson, Matthew Aydt (Kelsey) of Highland; grandson, Ollie Cox III of Litchfield and his daughter, Blair; granddaughter, Carrie Cox of Litchfield and her children, Colby, Caleb and Cash; granddaughter, Ambree Nolen of McCalla, AL and her children, Mason and Malaya; granddaughter, Misti Webb of Kirkwood, MO; grandson, Donald Webb of Litchfield and his son, Evan of Gillespie; and grandson, Ryan Montoro (Deanna) of Wilsonville and their children, Frank and Vinnie.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Lucille Freeland; husbands, Frank Amos, Ollie Cox, and Harold Michel; sons, Allen Amos and George Cox; daughter, Brenda Aydt; and granddaughter, Amanda Amos.
Visitation services will be held on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. Graveside services will be Thursday, January 28, 2021, at 11 a.m. at Somerville Cemetery, Somerville, IN. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie 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.
