Obituaries
Death of Rena M. Crookston
Rena M. Crookston, long time resident of Mexico, Missouri, passed away at home in Sedona, Arizona where she has lived near family for the past sixteen months. She was born in Benld, Illinois, on October 13, 1920 and died on September 30, 2011 in her sleep from natural causes. She lived independently until just the last few weeks of her life.
She is predeceased by her late husband, James A. Crookston, a former executive with A. P. Green Refactories. Dr. Crookston passed away on March 3, 1997. She is survived by her two sons, Jim and wife Sue of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and Dan and wife Paulette of Sedona, Arizona. The highlight of her life for the past 38 years were her grandchildren, Laura Deleot of Nashville, TN, Jenny Harrell of San Francisco, CA, Katie Birkholz of Denver, CO, James Crookston of Sedona, AZ, and San Francisco, CA and Shara Crookston of Toledo, OH. The last three years of her life have been filled with great joy and pleasure with the arrival of five great-grandsons, Beau, Thornton, Nolan, Xander and Clay.
Rena’s life was fulfilled with the act of doing for others. Very rarely did she focus on herself, it seemed to always be about someone else. She was very active for many years in her church, Mexico First Presbyterian Church, where she served as Elder and on many committees during her 56 years of membership. Rena was active as well in many civic activities such as PEO, the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary Board, the City Park Board and school PTA committees and fund raisers.
During the last few weeks of her life she was surrounded by family who traveled to her bedside to say goodbye. She died during the night after the last one left.
At Rena’s request her memorial will be a graveside service at Benld Cemetery in Benld, Illinois, on October 29, 2011 at 10AM where she will be laid to rest next to her husband and mother and father, Andina and Domenic Moretti.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers any remembrance be made to the Mexico First Presbyterian Church.
Kravanya Funeral Home, Benld, Illinois is in charge of the local 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.
