Helen C. Smith

Helen C. Smith, age 93, of Monmouth, Illinois formerly of Kirkwood, Illinois, passed away at 1:46 p.m. on Sunday, December 14, 2008, at Cottage Hospital in Galesburg, Illinois. Helen was born on April 9, 1915 in rural Kirkwood, the daughter of Fred and Pearl Stewart Cummings. Helen was raised in the Kirkwood area attending Center Grove School and graduating from Kirkwood High School in 1933. She attended Browns Business College in the Quad Cities. Helen married Robert W. Smith on March 24, 1940 in Peoria, Illinois. He preceded her in death on March 23, 1992. Helen did secretarial work in Peoria for Yeager Jaquin that sold school equipment and supplies where she met Robert. Together they worked at Hyster Company as a secretary and he worked in the engineering department. After several years they moved back to the Kirkwood to farm in 1949. Helen worked as a secretary at Brown Lynch Scott for several years. For 23 years as a postal clerk in Kirkwood Post Office until she retired. Helen was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Monmouth for over 50 years where she taught Sunday School, served as Deaconess, and played the piano. Missions were her passion. Helen loved to travel, traveling to Europe, the Holy Land, Africa, Kenya, and Scandanavia. Helen is survived by two daughters, Sue Hawk and Bill of Monmouth and Nancy J. Roseberry of Louisville, Kentucky, five grandchildren, Curtis Coburn, David Coburn, Lisa Larkins, Mark Roseberry and Jessica Roseberry, and six great grandchildren. Numerous other relatives also survive. Preceding her in death are her parents, husband, and stepfather Glen Lanphere. Services:Her funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 19, 2008, at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Monmouth. Interment will be in Center Grove Cemetery, Kirkwood. Helen's family will be present to receive friends at Turnbull's from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 18. A memorial fund is being established for Immanuel Baptist Church in Monmouth.