Beersheba Springs resident and Pana, Ill., native Ken Smith, 71, was born April 19, 1945 and died June 24 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville following an extended illness.
A self-employed excavator and a member of Hopewell Baptist Church, he was preceded in death by fathers, Maxwell Murray and Vernon Smith; and mother Catherine Juanita Ruot Smith.
He was married Sept. 28, 1979 to Judy King Smith of Beersheba Springs. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons and daughter-in-law, Kenneth Ray Smith (Alex Galvan) of Decatur, Ill., Glen and Tracy Jennings of Beersheba Springs, and Shane Smith of Altamont, daughter Amy Singleton of Taylorville, Ill.; four grandchildren, D.J. Singleton of Decatur, Ill., Samantha Singleton of Taylorville, Ill., and Jonathan Jennings and Christopher Jennings, both of Beersheba Springs; three great-grandsons, Lucas, Kal-El and James; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Randy and Debby Smith of Dixon, Ill., Rick and Darlene Smith of Morrison, Ill., and Rory and Rita Smith of Sterling, Ill.; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Rhonda and Lloyd Hurt of Washougal, Wash., and Renee and Fred Duncan of Sterling, Ill.; mother-in-law, Charlene King of Beersheba Springs; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at High's Chapel with Rory Smith and Coy King officiating. Burial will follow at Hunerwadel Cemetery in Grundy County. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m. until the time of service Monday at High's.