Obituaries
Death of Pastor Wilbur L. Mouser
Pastor Wilbur L. Mouser, 80, of Hettick, passed away early Saturday morning October 5, 2013 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Illinois. He was born on July 4, 1933 to Amon Lee and Myrtle (Acup) Mouser in Cape Girardeau, MO. Myrtle passed away when the children were very young, and their father remarried Nina Moore, who the children knew as mother growing up.
Wilbur served his country as a PFC in the Army during the Korean War. On July 19, 1963, he married Mary E. Paine in Carrollton, Illinois.
Wilbur pastored for over 40 years of his life, with the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ being his last call to the pulpit. He carried many titles over the years, including a carpenter, truck driver, plumber, and a HVAC technician. Wilbur owned and operated the Community Plumbing, Heating, and Appliance Store in Palmyra in the late 1960ies.
He also worked for C.A. Dawson & Company in Springfield, Ralph Evans Concrete in Virden, and the R & R Bindery in Girard. He was known as a “Jack of all trades”. Wilbur enjoyed reading, studying, hunting, yard selling, and going to flea markets.
Wilbur is survived by 2 daughters – Cheryl Thomas of Granite City, Illinois, and Sharon M. Anders of Girard; 2 sons – Rev. Larry Mouser (wife Paula) of Girard, and Thomas L. Mouser (wife Julia) of Girard; 9 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; twin sister – Wilma L. Wilson (husband Thomas) of Hartford, Illinois; sister – Bennie Jean Brown of Chandler, Texas; brother – Donald R. Mouser (wife Carolyn) of Hartford, Illinois; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father – Amon L. Mouser, mothers – Myrtle and Nina, wife – Mary on November 1, 2008, sons-in-law – Kenneth G. Anders, Jr. on January 24, 2013, and Bryan T. Fitzgerald on November 24, 1994, and sisters – Beryl Mouser, Evelyn Jones, and Delma Albright.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, October 08, 2013 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Davis-Anderson Funeral Home in Girard.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 9, 2013, at 11:00 am, at the First Christian Church in Girard, with Rev. William T. Pierce and Dr. John R. Crist officiating. Burial will take place in the Girard Cemetery.
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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.
