Shirley Joanne Smith, age 73, of Lawrenceville, Illinois passed away Friday, April 19, 2019 at the Franciscan Hospice House in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was born March 6, 1946 in Lawrence County, Illinois, the daughter of James Franklin and Rhoda Mae (Devin) Brown. She married Michael O. Smith on January 13, 1968 and he preceded her in death on November 5, 1997.
Shirley was a 1964 graduate of Lawrence Township High School and Colburn School of Beauty in Olney, Illinois. She was a beautician at Evelyn’s Beauty Shop 1963-1971 and a Life Insurance Producer. She, along with her husband, owned and operated the Smith Funeral Home in Lawrenceville, Illinois for over three decades. She was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville, Illinois. Shirley found a great sisterhood as a member of the Beta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon for 30 years, where she made lifelong friends and gave back to the community. Shirley was a Campfire Girls Leader for two years and also a cook at Camp Girls Camp in Spencer, Indiana for eight years. She loved to come out of the kitchen and dance to the song “Old Lady Leary” with the other cooks as the kids sang and clapped. Shirley loved playing cards, games, being silly, smiling, joking, and laughing with friends and family. She enjoyed life and always wanted to make things fun. Even if Shirley was having a difficult day, she always had a smile on her face.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Mike; and one son, Todd Carl Smith.
Survivors include one son, Scott Michael Smith and wife, Kim of Westfield, Indiana; one daughter, Lynne Anne Smith Alexander and husband, Scott of Indianapolis, Indiana; one brother, Louis Brown and wife, Jean of Flat Rock, Illinois; two sisters, Mildred Blair and husband, Fred of Lawrenceville and Mary Lou Moore and husband, Alan of Lawrenceville, Illinois; and two grandchildren, Sydney Lynne Smith and Mackenzie Kaye Smith; along with several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Friday, April 26, 2019 at 10:00 AM CST at the Emmons-Macey & Steffey Funeral Home in Lawrenceville, Illinois. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 PM CST until 8:00 PM CST at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Lawrenceville City Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Beta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon or the Lawrence County Camp Girls.
Please visit www.emmonsmaceysteffey.com to view the tribute and to send condolences.