Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Loisdene Smit – Obituary

Loisdene Smith, age 94, passed away Tuesday morning, December 3rd, 2013 at 8:09 a.m. at Herrin Hospital in Herrin, Illinois.

Loisdene was born on February 24th, 1919 to Cecil Earl Caraker and Lona Myrtle Billingsley Caraker.
She was united in marriage to William Everett Smith on July 26th, 1950 in Lincoln, Illinois. He preceded her in death on August 25th, 1977.

Survivors include a son, Charles Allen Smith, a daughter, Mary Alice Bottom Ingram and son in law, Jerry Ingram, grandchildren Bronson Kibler, Eric Kibler, Tina Elkins, Ronald (Butch) Elkins Shoemaker, Robert (Bobby) Elkins, Misty Pearson, Gregg Elkins, Gary Elkins and Jennifer Elkins Rix.

She is also survived by two daughters in law, Nancy Williamson Elkins Litsch and Susan K Elkins.

She has sixteen great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren who survive.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Ronald Dean Elkins and Everett Lawrence “Bud” Elkins. She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Grace McIntire and Helen Caraker, and seven brothers, Cecil Clarence Caraker, Lloyd (Joe) Caraker, Robert Caraker, Richard (Jack) Caraker, Carl Caraker, Billie Caraker and an infant brother who was stillborn.

Loisdene worked for the State of Illinois as an executive secretary at the University of Illinois in Champaign and then at the Elgin Mental Health Center in Elgin until her retirement in 1980.

Before and after retirement she enjoyed life through her love of the outdoors including gardening and fishing and spending time with her family. She loved to cook and made the best pies in Southern Illinois.

She dearly loved all of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren and the many other relatives and friends. Her life was centered around them, whether it was during the holidays, birthdays, special family occasions, a great family vacation, fishing trips or just a day cooking outside and playing. She was always there for all of them in good times and in bad.

She would give the shirt off her back to help someone and if she didn’t have a shirt, she would bake you one of her famous pies.

She was dearly loved and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Funeral Services will be held Monday afternoon, December 9, 2013 at 1 p.m. at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. Brother Jim Faughn will officiate. Burial will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery near Buncombe.

Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday at the Bailey Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter, 320 East Walnut Street, Ste. A, Carbondale, IL 62901