Obituaries
Obituary of Anna Mae (Bellm) Rives
Anna Mae (Bellm) Rives, 101, was born on October 3, 1923, in Carlinville to John and Helen (Beasley) Bellm and passed away on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at her home in Carlinville.
Anna married James Willard Rives on April 9, 1947, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Carlinville. They celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on April 9, 2022. Jim would pass away on December 28, 2022.
After graduation from Carlinville High School, Anna entered St. John’s School of Nursing in Springfield where she graduated as a Registerd Nurse. After nursing school, she worked at Macoupin County Hospital in Carlinville as an OB nurse. Anna also carried a job in Private Duty Nursing. She was a Nurse Cadet Volunteer during WWII, also volunteering with the Red Cross. Her nursing skills played a big role in her care for aging and dying neighbors and relatives.
While raising a large family, Anna also devoted time to gardening, cooking (especially her blue ribbon pies and German Lebkuchen cookies) crocheting afghans and was an avid reader and crossword puzzle player. Anna looked forward to Bridge Club nights with her many close friends and relatives. Special times for Anna were travels with family.
Anna was a member of Ss Mary and Joseph Catholic Church, Charter Member of the Carlinville Area Hospital Auxiliary, and Charter Member of the Catholic Daughters of America.
Surviving are nine children, Patty (Richard) Lange, John (Charlotte) Rives, Bill (Karen) Rives, Matt Rives, all of Carlinville, Mike (Olga) Rives of Carlyle, Bob (Deehan) Rives of Hillsboro, Jim (Eileen) Rives of Springfield, MO, Margaret (Jan) of Florissant, MO, and Becky (Rusty) Klein of Oconomowac, WI. There are 21 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren. Anna also leaves two brothers, Earl (Joan) Bellm, and Gene Bellm, all of Carlinville, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Ss Mary and Joseph Catholic Church, 2010 East 1st South St., Carlinville. A mass of Christian burial will follow at 11 am with the Reverend Alan Hunter presiding. Burial will take place following the Mass of Christian Burial at New Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Carlinville.
Memorials may be made to Ss Mary and Joseph Building Fund or to St. Vincent DePaul Society. Davis-Anderson Funeral Homes, Carlinville 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.
