Dean O. Smith

Dean O. Smith, age 91, of Pinckneyville, Ill., passed away on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014 in Good Samaritan Regional Health Center, Mt. Vernon, Ill.

Dean was born on Sept. 7, 1923 in Pinckneyville, Ill., a son to Stanley G. and Emma (Sattler) Smith. On Oct. 17, 1945, he married Lois L. Utz in Kewanee, Ill. and she preceded him in death on July 18, 2005. Dean was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, proudly serving his country during WW II. He was a member of St. Bruno Catholic Church, Pinckneyville, Ill. Dean earned his BA of Business from Illinois College, Jacksonville, Ill., a MA of Education, from SIU Carbondale, Carbondale, Ill. in 1951 and a MA of Guidance and Counseling from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. in 1961, was an educator at Pinckneyville Community High School for 33 years and was a member of the Retired Teachers Association of Perry County, National Education Association and Illinois College Alumni Association. He was also a member of the Presswood-Daffron American Legion Post #2504, Pinckneyville, Ill. Dean was an avid golfer, fisherman and lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He enjoyed taking fishing trips to Canada and was a dedicated and loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Survivors include two sons, Paul S. (Barbara) Smith of Eden Prairie, Minn. and Alan G. Smith of Minneapolis, Minn.; one daughter, Mary (Bill) Kopshever of Pinckneyville, Ill.; eight grandchildren, Kathy Kopshever, Jean (Matt) Hagston, Andy (Melissa) Kopshever, Paula Sattler and Sarah Smith and Eric (Nura), Anisa and Justin Smith; five great-grandchildren, Jacob, Austin and Holly Hagston and Ashton Kopshever and Gabriel Pentico; one nephew, Arthur Dean Smith of Pinckneyville, Ill. and one first cousin, Elsie Tuttle of Honolulu, Hawaii.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Gordon Smith and Grayson Smith (stillborn).

A funeral mass will be held at St. Bruno Catholic Church, Pinckneyville, Ill. on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. with Father Augustine Ibezimako officiating. Interment will be in St. Bruno Cemetery, Pinckneyville, Ill. Military services will be provided by Presswood-Daffron American Legion Post #2504, Pinckneyville, Ill.

Friends may call at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, Ill. on Monday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.

Memorial gifts can be made in memory of Dean O. Smith to Illinois College, Jacksonville, Ill. (www.ic.edu) or the American Lung Association (www.lung.org).

For more information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.pyattfuneralhome.com.