Anita Marie (Lane) Smith

ANITA SMITH

JERSEYVILLE – Anita Marie Smith, 71, passed away peacefully at 8:29 p.m., Monday, April 22, 2024 with her family at her side at her home in Jerseyville, following a brief and courageous battle with cancer.

She was born on May 3, 1952 in Carrollton, Illinois, one of four children born to the late David and Irma (Starner) Lane.

Anita graduated with the Class of 1970 from Jersey Community High School, and went on to obtain her Nursing Degree from Lewis & Clark Community College in Godfrey.

In total, her nursing career would span 30 years and during that time, she was employed in many facets of the healthcare industry, ranging from triage, cancer care, dialysis and home health. She began her working career at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Alton, prior to accepting employment with the Jersey County Health Department where she was employed for many years, and ended her career with the Greene County Health Department where she retired in 2010.

She married Larry Smith on November 8, 1969 in Jerseyville, and together they have shared in many wonderful memories together, along with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

As a family, they spent a great deal of time camping, fishing, hunting and traveling and they always looked forward to their yearly trips to Branson, Missouri to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

Following her retirement, Anita enjoyed and spent a great deal of time crafting, creating beautiful pieces for her friends and family.

She devoted her life to serving the Lord, as a loyal and faithful member of Open Door House of Praise in Jerseyville as well as serving as a Missionary with End Time World Outreach Ministry, spending a great deal of time working on Indian Reservation in Arizona and New Mexico; as well as serving her family, as a loving wife, devoted mother and a proud and doting grandmother and great grandmother. Her door was always open, and her home was a place of peace, love and acceptance. Whether it was the Holiday’s, birthdays or any other milestone, big or small, there was nothing she enjoyed more in this world than having her family together under one roof. As she transitioned from her earthly home to her home in Heaven, she was blessed to have been able to do so with all of those she loved together at her side.

Surviving are her husband, Larry Smith of Jerseyville; four children, Michael (Brenda) Smith of Jerseyville, Pamela (Clint) Jones of Fieldon, Scott Smith of Fieldon and Stephen (Christina) Smith of Jerseyville; seven grandchildren, David (Megan) Smith of Jerseyville, Caleb Smith and his companion, Faith Egelhoff of Jerseyville, Trevor Smith and his fiancé, Jalen Newingham of Jerseyville, Carson (Lexi) Griesemer of Jerseyville, Kylie (Will) Breden of Jerseyville, Marissa Smith of Kampsville and Kaylynn Smith of Jerseyville; five great grandchildren, Gage, Lilly, Lucas, Oaklyn and Remi; a brother and sister in-law, Claude David and Judith Lane of Jerseyville; as well as two sisters and a brother in-law, Deborah and Stewart Wadlow of Fieldon and Ruth Winters of Fieldon.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 25, 2024 at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville where funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Friday.

Burial will follow at Kane Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the family, to assist with the placement of a monument at Anita’s gravesite.

Memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordfunerals.com 

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