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From: "Jo Ann McGhee" <>
Subject: Obit - Don SMITH 1931-2004 (m. Jean PAYNE)
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 10:21:12 -0500


Benton Evening News, Benton IL, Mon 25 Oct 2004 issue
DON SMITH
Benton
Don SMITH, 73, of Benton, died at 5:45 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004,
surrounded by his family. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday,
Oct. 29, at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton, with David
McCONNELL officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery
in Benton. The family will receive friends after 9:30 a.m. Friday, at the
funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mr. SMITH's memory may be
made to Hospice of the Good Samaritan, 605 N. 12th St., Mt. Vernon, IL
62864.

Don was born July 15, 1931, in Akin, the son of Evan and Mae (GALBRAITH)
SMITH, who survive. Don was an Army veteran, serving during the Korean War.
He was a pitcher for the U.S. Army baseball team at Fort Benning, Ga. He
received a bachelor's degree from SIUC and taught school and coached at
Thompsonville. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Don was an
insurance adjuster for Country Companies in the Benton office. He attended
the First Christian Church in Christopher. In the late 1960s, Don became
part owner of the retail store, Western Auto. There he remained until his
retirement in 2002. Don was an avid sports fan and horseman. He loved the
game of golf and was a qualified member of the elite Liar's Club Post Number
00 in Benton, of which he was the self-appointed public relations officer.

He married Jean (PAYNE) on July 18, 1953, and she survives. He is also
survived by four children, Shelley Donn SMITH, Sherry Jo (SMITH) SUMMARY and
husband, Greg, and Rob SMITH, all of Benton, and Kerry SMITH of Chicago;
four grandchildren, Jennifer SUMMARY of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Justin SUMMARY
at SIU-Carbondale, Brendan SUMMARY at McKendree College in Lebanon and Bryce
SUMMARY at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston; a niece, Rhona (SMITH)
DORIAN of Vermont; nephews, Gary SMITH and Alan SMITH of New York, and Brett
SMITH of New Mexico; and a sister-in-law, Pam (SMITH) YARBROUGH of
Carbondale. Don was preceded in death by his brother, Ron SMITH;
sister-in-law, Shirley SMITH; and a nephew, Barry SMITH.


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