Obituaries
Death of Phyllis Jean Ridenhower
Phyllis Jean Ridenhower, 75, of Sorento, formerly of Litchfield, passed away Thursday, October 31, 2024. She was born on February 12, 1949, in Litchfield a daughter of Paul James and Frances LaVonne (Hurst) Stewart Sr.
She was a graduate of Litchfield Community High School, class of 1967. Her first marriage was to Gary Frank Sr. Together they had four children and that later ended in divorce. She then married John “J.R.” M. Ridenhower on May 12, 1981, in Litchfield. J.R. passed away January 1, 2010.
She loved music and dancing and traveled with J.R. in the various bands that he played in and became a sound and light board operator. She held a Commercial Drivers License for several years and drove over the road for many of those years. She was a great cook and made the best lasagna and baked spaghetti. She loved to read and writing and wrote three books, but they weren’t published. She loved having a good ole time and being with her family was important to her.
Phyllis is survived by two sons, Gary (fiancé Tanya Roberts) Frank of Maryville and Jimmy Frank of Litchfield; two daughters, Angela (fiancé Jim Roberson) Frank of New Douglas and Sherry Willette of Sorento; two brothers, Paul (Lori) Stewart Jr., of Hillsboro and George Stewart of Litchfield; sister, Pauline (Bill) Webb of Moberly, MO; and several grand and great grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, J.R., Phyllis is preceded in death by her parents.
A service of remembrance and celebration of Phyllis’ life will be held Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 12:00 Noon at the Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Interment will be in the Crabtree Cemetery. The family will receive family and friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday.
Memorials are asked to be given to assist with expenses, C/O Angela Frank. Plummer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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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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