Helen M. Smith

Helen Marie Smith (nee Feather), 91, of Maryville, Illinois, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, November 5th.

Helen was born in Kinmundy, Illinois to Ralph and Vivienne Feather as the third child of four. As a child, she spent her time with her three siblings, Juanita Miller, Joe Feather and Evelyn Middleton, playing in the barn and down by the creek and cooking fish over an open fire. She especially loved the harvest time when neighbors would come over and share a huge meal together.

She graduated from Kinmundy High School where she played on the school's basketball team. It was there that she met the love of her life, Donald Smith who was two years her junior. In 1952, just one day after Don turned 18, the pair went with two other couples to Hernando, Mississippi to elope, as this was a place where they wouldn't need their parents' permission. While Helen and Don's parents knew about the elopement and approved, not all parents of the other couples did. Despite the skepticism, all three couples remained married for their entire lives, including Helen and Don who were married 52 years before Don passed away in 2004.

Helen and Don had six children: Debra LaDon Koch (Terry), Donald Anthony Smith (Suzy), Lauri Lyn Reed (Jay), Angela Marie Lee (Jim), Kimberly Jo Dossett (Byron), and Joseph Todd Smith (Stephanee). Their big family is full of love, and it went on to produce 16 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. The kids have fond memories of their parents, and always remember the love they had for one another.

Helen loved the simple things in life including being a mother and grandmother. She was an avid Duke basketball fan and she rarely missed watching a game on TV. She loved playing cards with her family (especially when she won). Her grandkids all knew her as being the "cool" grandma who you could always count on to appreciate an inappropriate joke or have a drink with - even well into her 80s and 90s. She and Don always hosted holidays for their big family, and the kids and grandkids always looked forward to spending holidays together.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Don Smith parents; Ralph and Vivienne Feather, her sister; Juanita Miller, and her son-in-law, Jay Reed. She is survived by her children and grandchildren: Kelly, Michael, Justin, Beth, Danielle, Erica, Shawna, Kelsie, Kirsten, Kourtney, Morgan, Joshua, Jake, Wade, Carsyn and Lauren as well as many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Her family is comforted by the fact that Helen lived a long, fulfilling life and is now reunited with her husband. Their love will live on through generations to come.

Services will be held Saturday, November 11, 2023 at McGriff Funeral Home in Kinmundy, Illinois. Visitation will begin at 12:00 pm with service to follow at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Vitas Healthcare who took great care of Helen in her final days. The family cannot thank them and their hospice staff enough for their kindness and empathy during this difficult time. To sign the guestbook online or share a memory of Helen, please visit www.mcgriffandtriplettfh.com.