Obituaries
Obituary of Elsie Lucille (Small) Street
Elsie Lucille Street of Litchfield passed away on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 94 years of age on the same date and virtually the same time as her late husband, Lee, passed fourteen years ago. Born January 28, 1931, in Litchfield to the late Charles Cleveland Small and Anna Sophia (Lehnert) Small, she was the first incubator baby at St. Francis Hospital weighing only 3-1/2 pounds at birth.
Elsie was extremely proud of her maternal Dutch-German heritage. Her grandmother, Jenna Muller, was one of thirteen children born to Riclef Peters Muller and Anthye Janssen Helen Detmers in Hage, Norden, Hanover, Prussia, Germany (on the North Sea) in 1858, with the entire family coming to the U.S. by ship in 1883.
Elsie married the love of her life, Lee Gilbert Allen Street, in Hillsboro on February 19, 1949; a marriage that spanned 62 years until his death in 2011. In her early years, Elsie was employed at St. Francis Hospital in the surgery and x-ray departments developing the majority of the x-rays for the victims of the 1948 Bunker Hill tornado disaster. For the remainder of her life she was a devoted homemaker and enjoyed working in her yard and tending her flowers. She was well-known for her “green thumb” and creating a beautiful variety of rare flowers and ferns in her yard.
She enjoyed and was extremely gifted in the arts of crochet, embroidery, painting, making soap, and baking and decorating cakes, cookies and candies. She was a prolific collector of vintage items and loved attending yard and estate sales. Elsie loved visiting with her friends and relatives both in person and on the phone as well as sending and receiving cards and letters. She loved dancing and listening to German Polka music and in her later years, she had a passion for jigsaw and word puzzles and watching cooking shows that featured children cooking or Cake Boss.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Litchfield where she was a member of King’s Daughters, worked in the nursery, and served in many capacities. She loved and honored the Lord and the teachings of the Bible. She was kind to everyone, honest to a fault, but also had a “fiery” spirit. She took care of her mother, stepfather, mother-in-law, uncle, and neighbors when they needed help or were at the end of life. She taught her children to be empathetic, honorable, and trustworthy.
Elsie’s life was defined by generosity – guided by Acts 20:35 (“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’), she often gave away her possessions to anyone she felt was in need. Her gentle kindness touched the lives of many.
It must be noted that Elsie loved each member of her family and all of her friends unconditionally. She was so proud of them and each of their accomplishments and made sure to let them (and everyone else) know.
Until recently, Elsie had been cared for by her daughter and “son”-in-law, Ann and David Allen of Litchfield for the past 13 years. Besides Ann and Dave, she also leaves a grandson, D. Brett Allen and his wife Kellie (Eaker) Allen of Wildwood, MO; one great grandson, Keegan Edward Allen of Wildwood, MO; daughter, Brenda Arter (John) of rural Raymond; and grandson, J. Nicholas Arter, and granddaughter, Abigail Katherine Arter, both who reside in St. Louis, MO. She also leaves several nieces and nephews who she held close to her heart.
Preceding her in death were her parents and husband; her step-father, Norris Sinclair DeWitt of Litchfield; her brother, Charles C. Small, and his wife, Delores of Greenville; her step-sister, Bess (DeWitt) Odle of Litchfield; her beloved niece, Peggy Michelle Miller Odle of Litchfield; and nephews, Robert and Dale Street of Litchfield, and Robert Street of Phoenix, AZ.
A private graveside service for immediate family members and Blessing for the deceased will be held on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11, 2025, with burial in Elm Lawn Cemetery, Litchfield. Lynne Taylor, Ministerial Chairperson of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, will Officiate.
Elsie often said, “Give me flowers when I can enjoy them, not when I have passed.” With that request in mind, the family asks that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to Gillespie Health and Rehabilitation Activity Department, c/o Elsie’s daughter, Ann Allen, Litchfield.
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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.
