Obituaries
Obituary of Shelby Jean Marra
Shelby Jean Marra, 87, formerly of Staunton, passed away on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at Meridian Village Memory Care in Glen Carbon. She was born February 8, 1938, in Nashville, the daughter of the late Harold and Martha (Schneider) Hermeling. She married Edward “Buck” Marra on June 8, 1963, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Nashville; he preceded her in death.
Shelby graduated from Nashville High School in 1956 and went on to attend St. Paul’s College, graduating with an associate degree in teaching in 1958. She continued her education and achieved a bachelor’s in education from McKendree University in 1968. She always loved being a student and went on to receive her Masters in Teaching from Blackburn College in 1993.
She began her teaching career in 1958 at Zion Lutheran School in Staunton. Shelby was only 20 years old when she began teaching a combined class of 5th and 6th graders. While at Zion, she taught everything, including art, music, and PE. She also coached junior high cheerleading and track.
In 1965 she took a 5th grade position in Bethalto Unit 8 School System. During her time in Bethalto, she taught her largest class of 48 students. She went to Staunton Unit 6 Schools in 1968, teaching 6th grade math and language arts. She was known for producing plays every year with her 6th graders. During her last years, she was a high school cheerleading coach. She retired from full-time teaching in 2003 after 45 years of teaching. While she may have retired from teaching school, she never quit teaching.
Shelby always knew she was going to be a teacher. As a toddler, she would teach her dolls & from there went on to teach her younger brother and sister how to read prior to starting school. Her four grandchildren were her favorite pupils. Every day after school, she required them to sit around the dining room table while she assisted and supervised the completion of their homework and studying for tests. Her favorite job was being a Grandma. She loved chauffeuring them to and from school, orthodontist appointments, and other school activities.
Her last years were spent at Meridian Memory Care in Glen Carbon. The family would like to thank everyone at Meridian Memory Care for the exceptional care they provided her.
She is survived by her only child, Shelli (Kelly) Brown of Edwardsville; four grandchildren—Adam (Sabrina) Cook of St. Louis, MO; Sophia Cook of Edwardsville; and Grace and Rachel Brown, both of Edwardsville; her brother, Dean (Dottie) Hermeling of Loveland, CO; and one niece, Heather (John) Hanson of Loveland, CO. Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Charlene Hermeling.
Friends may call from 3 to 6 PM on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton. Funeral services will be held at 6 PM on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton, with Pastor Phil Girardin officiating. Private burial will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery in Staunton.
Memorials are suggested to the Staunton Education Foundation. To order flowers or leave an online condolence, please visit our website at www.williamsonfh.com.
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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.
