Barbara Jean (Beasley) Lutz

Barbara Jean (Beasley) Lutz, 87, of Litchfield, passed away the evening of Thursday, January 16, 2025, at her residence. She was born in Walnut Grove, Alabama, July 7, 1937, one of 8 children of Edgar Dewey and Vera Ellen (Clifton) Beasley. She and Anthony Paul Cerentano married in 1959 and divorced in 1972. She married James Richard Lutz in 1974 in Litchfield. He preceded her in death October 10, 2015.

Mrs. Lutz was employed at several businesses through the years, including Roller Derby Skate Corp., Po’ Folks, Long John Silver’s and A & W Root Beer. She loved traveling. Mrs. Lutz particularly enjoyed traveling to bowling tournaments in which she participated, and with her husband, Jim, when he played with the band “Jim Lutz & the Regulars”. She spent many hours fishing at Lake Lou Yaeger.

Mrs. Lutz is survived by:

3 daughters, Julie (Howard) Mason of Collinsville, IL; Brenda (Barry) East of Chatsworth, GA; and Terri Cerentano of Litchfield

6 grandchildren, Jason Marit of Litchfield; Jennifer Marit of Chatsworth, GA; Derek Cerentano of Dalton, GA; Mike (Megan) Cerentano of Glen Carbon, IL; Ryan Cerentano of Granite City, IL; and Jesse Cerentano of Litchfield

12 great grandchildren, Tessa Webber, Will Webber, Kenzee Marit, Ezra Cerentano, Eliot Cerentano, Mallory Cerentano, Brooke Cerentano, Kate Cerentano, Nolan Cerentano, Lily Cerentano, Emma Cerentano, and Ellianna Cerentano.

Mrs. Lutz was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son, Michael, and siblings Henderson, Freddie, Roosevelt, Ed, Angalow, Robert and Dora.

Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Lutz will be held Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at Union Miner’s Cemetery in Mt. Olive, IL. Rev. Gary Schwab of First Presbyterian Church, Litchfield, will officiate. Visitation will be from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. A funeral procession will line up at 11:00 a.m. at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield to proceed to the cemetery.

The family respectfully requests in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Plummer Funeral Home to help defray funeral expenses.

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