- Date Of Birth: October 2, 1931
- Date Of Death: July 19, 2016
- State: Illinois
Lawrence E. “Jack” Smith Jr., 84, of Jacksonville and formerly of Franklin, died Tuesday, July 19, 2016, at Heritage Health in Jacksonville. He was born Oct. 2, 1931, in Moline, the son of Lawrence E. Sr. and Lena E. Buchanan Smith. He married Marilynn Chance on Nov. 8, 1952, in Franklin, and she survives.
He is also survived by one son, Tim Smith of Orlando, FL; two daughters, Mindy (Kenneth) Rader and Charlotte (Mike) Woodyard, both of Franklin; six grandchildren, Abigail (Brent) Whitmire and Geoffrey Smith, both of Houston, TX, Tom (Stephanie) Rader of Streator, Dan Rader (Chelsey Izard) of Alton, Mathew Woodyard of Chicago, and Luke Woodyard of Jacksonville; one step-granddaughter, Tammy Fromme of Franklin; eleven great-grandchildren; and one cousin raised in the family home, Richard (Marty) Lovett of Benton, KY.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one step-granddaughter, Sandra Torbeck; and one cousin raised in the family home, James Lovett.
Mr. Smith was a 1949 graduate of Franklin High School. He then served in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of the Korean War. Upon his discharge, he returned to the Franklin area and began his lifelong career as a farmer. He was a member of the Morgan County Fair Board and was instrumental in the first Tractor Pull competitions they held. He was also a member of the Franklin United Methodist Church, Franklin Cemetery Board, the VFW, and the Franklin American Legion. Jack loved his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
