Obituaries
Death of Raymond “Beaver” Coatney
Raymond “Beaver” Coatney of Carlinville passed away October 30, 2024, at his home at the age of 92. Beaver was born on August 20, 1932, to James and Elizabeth Coatney.
He married Ruth Schmidt Coatney on December 2, 1961. She passed away on December 6, 1998. On October 7, 2006, he married Ruth Burns Coatney and she survives. Beaver was a graduate of Staunton High School. He was a proud veteran of the Korean War and was able to go on an Honor Flight in 2013.
Upon returning from Korea, Beaver started working in sales which eventually brought him and his family to Carlinville. He made many friends while working for Starr Brothers, Cisco Steel, Central Equipment, McKay Auto Parts, and then retiring from the Veterans Affairs office.
Beaver was a devout member of the Zion Lutheran Church. He was also a 50 year member of the Carlinville American Legion Post. Beaver was member of the Carlinville Lions Club for 57 years, with 57 years of perfect attendance. He was the president in 1979-1980 and the Illinois District Governor for 1987-1988 which gave them the opportunity to attend many International Conventions along with state and district events. He only missed one Lions Carnival in all of his years as being a member and was even able to attend this years for a short while.
Beaver was a Macoupin County Board member from 1997-2016 and served on several boards in association with that including the MCDD board. Beaver enjoyed all sports. He had St. Louis Cardinal football season tickets, he followed the Carlinville Cavaliers, the Chicago Bears and left no doubt that he was a diehard Cub’s fan.
Preceding Beaver in death were his first wife, Ruth, and his brothers, Bob Coatney and Will Coatney.
Surviving are his wife, Ruth; daughter, Cindy (Brad) Stayton of Carlinville; son, Phil (Lynanne) Coatney of Glen Carbon; and son, Steve (Kris) Coatney of Phoenix AZ. Beaver’s pride and joy was his grandchildren, Derek (Lyndsey) Stayton, Dane (Grace) Stayton, Damon (girlfriend Chelsey) Stayton, Chelsea (fiancé Kevin) Coatney, Maxwell Coatney, Cal Coatney, and Ty Coatney; and his great grandchildren, Sloane, Lowen, Rhett and Rhen Stayton.
He is also survived by his sisters, Janice Adams and Kay Blessing, several sisters and brothers in law, and nieces and nephews.
Visitation will take place Sunday, November 3, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Carlinville. Funeral service will be Monday, November 4, 10:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Carlinville. Burial will take place in Prairie Lawn Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Carlinville Lions Club or Zion Lutheran Church. Davis-Anderson Funeral Homes, Carlinville is in charge of arrangements.
Comments
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.
Comments
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.
