Mildred Smith

Mildred M. Smith, age 90, formerly of Crab Orchard, passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2009 at Angel Acres in Marion. She was born January 3, 1919 in Shattuc, Illinois to Ross A. and Gertrude E. (Short) Chezem. She was united in marriage to Shannon L. Smith on September 25, 1942, in Charleston, Missouri and together they shared over 64 years of marriage until his death on March 13, 2007. Mildred was a graduate of Carlyle High School. She earned a scholarship to attend Southern Illinois University where she obtained a Bachelors degree in 1940 and a Masters degree in 1957. She began her teaching career at Crab Orchard High School where she taught business for 15 years and during which two of those years she served as principal. She then taught at Marion High School for 22 years first in the Business department and then as a Guidance Counselor. She was thought very highly of, not only by her fellow educators but also by the many students she had taught through the years. She had a great love for young people and always taught them to strive to their full potential. After her retirement in 1977, she continued in the field of education by teaching adult education classes for John A. Logan College for several years. She was a member of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, the Illinois Education Association, The National Education Association, the SIU Alumni Association, the Marion Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Pi Lamba Theta Sorority, and a former member of the Marion Business and Professional Womens Club. Mildred was also a faithful member of the Crab Orchard United Methodist Church for over 50 years. She served in many roles including Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School Director, and Choir Director as well as on many other committees. She had a great love for teaching teenagers, always being the first to volunteer to teach them in Bible School or Sunday School. Mildred always had a great love of music and she directed many choir programs through the years. She also enjoyed singing duets and trios with many of the friends she attended church with. She and her husband Shannon also enjoyed traveling, most especially to the Smokey Mountains. She loved making memories for her family by making holidays and birthdays true celebrations and times that her family will always cherish. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her daughter, Aleta Gray of Marion; her granddaughters, Beth and her husband Bill Jordan of Creal Springs and Dana and her husband Steve Dixon of Marion; her great grandchildren; Lucas and his wife Ashley Ude, Brent Jordan, Lauren Ude, Benjamin Jordan, Zachary Midgett, Bridget Jordan and Braydon Dixon. Other survivors include her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Don and Joan Smith of Marion; sisters-in-law Jean Hayes of Loveland, Colorado and Mildred Parker of Chicago as well as many nieces and nephews and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son-in-law Danny G. Gray, grandson Jim Ude, her father-in-law and mother-in-law Raymond and Adell Smith, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Mac and Velma McCollum, brother-in-law Bill Hayes and sister-in-law Yvonne Smith. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home in Marion with Rev. Cecil Atchison and Rev. Ivan Ryan officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening from 5:00 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. For those who prefer memorials may be made to the Crab Orchard United Methodist Church, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to Angel Acres. The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Angel Acres for the loving care that Mildred received. Watch the Video Tribute