Obituaries
Death of Oliver Knox “O.K.” Donham
Oliver Knox “O.K.” Donham, 91, of Litchfield passed away Friday, October 16, 2015, at 11:00 p.m. at H.S.H.S St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. He was born on September 10, 1924, in Wichita, Kansas, to Wickliffe Oliver and Gertrude Belle (Knox) Donham. He was a graduate of Jerseyville High School Class of 1942.
Mr. Donham was a veteran of WWII serving in the U.S. Army. He served in the European, African and Middle Eastern Theater and held the rank of Supply Sergeant and was a recipient of the Purple Heart for injuries received in combat.
He married the former Agnes Winifred Ryan on December 11, 1952, in Ferguson, MO. Mrs. Donham passed away August 22, 2005. Mr. Donham, along with his late wife Agnes and late son, Kevin, owned and operated Donham’s Ladies Apparel in Downtown Litchfield and Jerseyville for several years. He retired in 1990.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Litchfield and served on the Board of Elders there for several years. Mr. Donham was active in several community organizations and was a community volunteer. He was a longtime member of the Litchfield Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. In 1990, he was the Veiled Non-Profit.
He served in capacities with the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce over the Years, Chairman of the Litchfield Red Cross Chapter, Kneiry-Knagg American Legion Post #436 and served on the Color Guard. Mr. Donham had served on the Board of Directors for the Lincoln Land Area Agency on Aging.
He is survived by his daughter in law, Debra K. Donham of Litchfield; two grandsons, Sean Donham of Litchfield and Chris (Laura) Donham of Clearwater, FL; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife Agnes, Mr. Donham is preceded in death by his son Kevin, who passed away on July 31, 1999.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, October 20, 2015, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 21 at 11 a.m. in the First Presbyterian Church of Litchfield with Rev. Gary Schwab officiating. Burial will be in Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield.
The family suggests memorials to either the First Presbyterian Church or to Rotary International.
Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield 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.
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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.
