Phyllis N. Smith, 87, of Peoria, passed away at 3:55 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2013, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, with her family by her side. Funeral services will be at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 25, 2013, at Clary Funeral Home, 3004 West Lake Avenue in Peoria, with Pastors Tim Beddingfield, Kevin Pycraft and Justyn Smith officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, prior to services. Additional visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 on Tuesday, March 26, 2013, followed by interment and graveside services, with Pastor Dennis Pycraft officiating, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Hawley Cemetery in Peoria. Phyllis was born on April 24, 1925 in St. David, the daughter of Grover Cleveland and Martha (Thomas) Cleer. She married Cleo Ray Smith in Peoria on July 19, 1943. He preceded her in death on July 9, 2003 in Peoria. She was also preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Dale Ray Smith, Jr.; granddaughter, Denise Litza; brother, Ernest Cleer; and nephew Wayne Cleer. She is survived by her daughters, Sandra K. (Pastor Dennis) Pycraft of Plainfield, IN and Teresa L. (Thomas) Newton of Washington; sons, Ronald Cleo (Deborah) Smith of Yates City and Dale Ray (Annette) Smith, Sr. of Wyoming; nine grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; four step grandchildren; and thirteen step great grandchildren. Phyllis was a faithful woman and loved and served the Lord in many ways. She was a member of Cedar Hills Baptist Church in Dunlap, taught a women’s Bible study for over thirty years, taught Sunday school and played piano and organ at church. She was very proud of her two grandsons, who are serving the Lord in their ministries, and her two great grandsons, who are preparing to serve the Lord in their ministries. She was a private piano teacher in the Peoria area for over fifty-six years and touched people’s hearts one note at a time. Phyllis enjoyed spending time at home and at church, crocheting, genealogy, quilting and collecting ink wells and pottery. She loved her family and was a wonderful and dedicated wife, mom and grandma. She chose an in-home profession, so she could always be at home with her kids. Phyllis’ personal ministry was to bring people cheer and encouragement through sending cards. Memorial contributions may be made in Phyllis’ memory to the Cedar Hills Baptist Church Building Fund. Phyllis’ family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Randy McCrea and his staff for their years of dedication to her care.
| Ross Fritz |
She will be missed |
April 8, 2013 |
I have known Mrs. Smith since I was very young. She was like a grandmother to me and my brother. I remember when I was older giving her rides to church so she could be there and dropping her off on the way home. She was a wonderful lady and will be greatly missed.
Ross Fritz
| Betty Gathmann Hunt |
Deepest Sympathy |
March 28, 2013 |
To the Phyllis Smith family:
What a wonderful lady and such a sweet husband that she had. She helped me so much with the Thomas family history. I only wish that I could have known my cousin more, but it's hard to do when you lived far away when I was younger. My husband, George, who has since passed, enjoyed visiting with them, when we moved back to the midwest. She will be greatly missed and you all have my deepest sympathy. God Bless you Phyllis.
Betty "Gathmann" Hunt, 2nd cousin
