- Date Of Birth: July 2, 1928
- Date Of Death: February 22, 2019
- State: Illinois
Doris Evon (Schneider) Smith passed from this life on February 22nd, 2019 after a short illness. She was born on July 2, 1928 in rural Carroll County to Kenneth and Gladys (Campbell) Schneider. She attended Oakville Country School and was a 1946 graduate of Mt. Carroll High School. She attended Shimer College and married Wilmer Smith, who had recently returned from serving in the Navy during WWII, on July 20th, 1947.
They farmed together for nearly 60 years on dairy farms in Carroll and Stephenson Counties. Doris is survived by her six children: Susan (David) Zumdahl of Byron, Patricia (Gary) Kloepping of Shannon, Steven (Jane) Smith of Milledgeville, Gerald (Sharon) Smith of Davis, Diane (Pat) Bausman of Mt. Carroll, and Debra (Jeff) Magnuson of Minneapolis; 15 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, 3 brothers and many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by Wilmer, her husband of 63 years, her grandson, Douglas William Smith, her parents, 3 sisters and 1 brother.
Doris had a life-long love of reading, gardening, canning and freezing home-grown produce. She was happiest when her house was full of people of all ages; neighbors, friends and family were always greeted with coffee and baked goodies.
She had an amazing work ethic, but more importantly, work was never a burden—Doris decided at an early age to make the best of whatever life brought her. Her deep Christian faith buoyed her spirit and guided a path from which she never strayed. She was a member of St. Paul Church of Epleyanna in Davis, Illinois. Doris was a “glass is full and overflowing” person who always found the best in everyone.
After retiring from the farm in 2004, she and Wilmer enjoyed spending more leisure time together—they were rarely apart in their many happy years of marriage. After Wilmer died in 2011, Doris carried on independently, keeping up her large garden, mowing 3 acres of lawn with her John Deere riding mower, and enjoying old and new friends along with her ever-growing family. After her 90th birthday last summer, she “did corn” and made fresh batches of her famous salsa, jams and jellies. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
“Richer than I you will never be, for I had a Mother who read to me.”
