Sending love, hugs, and heartfelt sympathy for the loss of your dad. His passing makes me miss both your mom and dad even more—there’s something especially final when the second parent is gone.

I’ll always be grateful for the love and support they shared with me throughout my life.

Wishing blessings and comfort to you all.

I get way to emotional to stand up in front of others but this is what I shared on Facebook about your beloved mom and dad. 

Sunday morning August 3rd, hope was realized for our friend Jerry Smith. I've been reflective as we often are at times like this. He was my 6th grade teacher and my sister's 4th and 6th grade teacher at Hermes in Aurora. When Donna moved on to middle school (Simmons) she would still drop by Hermes on her walk home, to visit him, help him put papers in kids mailboxes, things like that. That didn't continue in High School because East Aurora was the other direction. Life moved on but when Donna's oldest baby, Timothy passed away suddenly, Mr. Smith showed up at the visitation. A couple of years later I started attending Central Bible Church on Elmwood and Galena. The very first Sunday I attended, there was Mr. Smith. He and his wife Ruthi. They had their roles there. She taught a ladies Sunday School class and he taught kids. She also organized monthly women's meetings and a ladies tea once a year. Great memories. Donna also went to Central Bible church for a bit and she and mom came to the ladies tea. So always a little connection. We started going to the church I am at now in 2013. A few months later, Jerry, Mr. Smith showed up and started attending regularly. Eventually, Ruthi did as well. By this time her dementia had started showing. It wasn't long before they needed help around the house. Their daughter reached out on Facebook looking for help. Donna, a CMA, wasn't working at the time. They lived in Boulder Hill less than a mile from Donna. A former student, friend, trustworthy. So I sent a message to my sister about what they were looking for and Donna became a person to hang out with Ruthi a couple times a week to give Jerry a break. She took her to appointments, lunch and cleaned around the house. When Ruthi's health got worse, they trusted Donna's opinion that she needed to go to a facility. During this time, we all visited together occasionally. Once Ruthi was in Meadowbrook Manor in Naperville, Jerry would go over to Donna and Bob's for dinner, drive up to see his kids in Wisconsin, garden and still visit Ruthi most every day. Donna would still go see Ruthi at their request, probably 4 times a week. Soon after Ruthi passed. We all still got together with Jerry often, Especially Donna and Bob, living so close. Eventually, his kids wanted him to sell his house and buy up close to them. We met him half way once and had dinner at some fantastic all you can eat chicken place. Visited him at the hospital in Rockford when he was there. And then went up last September and stayed a couple of days during his birthday. I wished I'd gotten up there more, but isn't that the way it is? So that's about 45 years in a nutshell. The ebbs and flows of relationships. Rarely are we blessed to see the way God has layered and woven our lives together this way. I have to think some of it was the intentionality we all had. I will never forget it and have learned so much from this couple in my life. You have won the race my friend. I imagine Ruthi had some warm chocolate chip cookies waiting for you!

Answer the Call   (Tribute to Jerry Smith by his son, Jeff Smith)

My dad was an easy man to underestimate.

A little rough around the edges, a lot of dirt under his fingernails, he wore bib overalls as frequently as possible, wasn’t politically correct, told the same jokes over and over again.

If you saw him randomly at Walmart or sitting on the dock fishing, you’d likely form a quick opinion of what type of man he was.

But if you did that, you’d be missing the fact that underneath this “hillbilly at heart” was a truly great man with a strong character and a long history of answering the call.

My dad grew up from humble beginnings in Mount Vernon, Illinois where they lived for a while on a farm without electricity or indoor plumbing. He wore used hand-me-down clothes that were scruffy enough to be made fun of by the kids at school. He swore he ate rabbit, squirrel and possum for dinner regularly, but I’m still not entirely sure that’s true.

At the age of 16, he answered his 1st call – the call of salvation – and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

The next and most important call of his life came from the US Marine Corp, a call to be one of the Few, one of the Proud. He answered that call and joined the marines – he even had to get ‘special permission’ because he was only 17. But that was his dream and from boot camp until the day when he passed away 66 years later, there was nothing he was more proud of in his entire life than being a Marine. He always said a Marine could kick the butt of two Navy guys or three Army guys. (I’m not sure that’s entirely true either)….

In the marines, he was a hard worker and a quick learner and as he worked his way through the ranks, he caught the eye of his commanding officers who suggested he might just be smart enough to take on some college course work. Having someone believe in him and his abilities led to him enrolling in “Correspondence Classes”, which were like online universities but way before computers were invented, imagine that! He began passing these classes and proved to himself that he was capable. And that was where his next call would come from – the Call to Education.

After honorable discharge, he moved up north to the Chicago suburbs for work and he answered the call to continue his college education. During that time he met my mother. If he had not been working on his college degree at the time, I’m pretty sure she never would have even considered marrying him

He finished college and became the 1st person in his family to get a bachelors degree and the only one to achieve a Masters Degree. During his own secondary education he discovered a real passion for education that would turn into a 30+ year career of teaching and developing young minds in elementary school. Some of you in this room had him as a teacher or co-worker and knew how much he loved his school kids.

He answered the call to Fatherhood and while he loved playing with his young children, he struggled a bit when Michelle and I went through adolescence and our teenage years. I really can’t imagine why…!!?? We were practically angels!

In the early 70’s he received one of his toughest calls with the diagnosis of mouth cancer. He lost ½ of his upper jaw in a surgery back when cancer treatment wasn’t very advanced. He was left with a large hole in his mouth and a heavy burden on his heart that his wife and young children might be left without a husband and a father. But he answer this call with strength and determination and became a cancer survivor. We are all certainly thankful for that!

He gladly answered the call to become a grandfather and I’m pretty sure he took way more joy out of his 6 wonderful grandkids than his own two biological children. He doted on those grandkids constantly and was so proud of the adults they have become.

He received the toughest call of his life when my mom, Ruthi, developed dementia and was slowly and increasingly unable to take care of the house, finances and eventually herself. But my dad rose to this challenge and did everything he could to keep her safe and content in her own home as long as possible. Even when she went to the nursing home for the last 2 years he visited her every day to ensure she received the care she deserved.

My dad’s last call came 3 years ago when he was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. He could have called it the end and spent the rest of his time on the porch in a rocking chair, but he didn’t. He answered that call as well with inner strength and peace and although he had to dig really deep he still somehow found the energy to do the things he loved with the people he cared for the most. Fishing, feeding the squirrels and birds, going out to eat, even mowing his lawn and the neighbors – until just weeks before he passed.

Yes, my Dad was easy to under-estimate. I’ve been guilty of it myself. Rough around the edges, a hillbilly at heart, living life in overalls… But he answer the call – each and every one whether good, glorious, tough or gut-wrenching – and he did it with courage, strength and grace.

And I’m so vey proud and blessed to call him my Father.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear brother-in-law, Jerry. He was a godly man whose life reflected love, kindness, and generosity. A devoted husband and father, Jerry’s presence was a blessing to all who knew him. We will always cherish the memories of his visits with Ruthi to spend time with Dave and me, and the joy he found in simple pleasures—like fishing off the 17th Street pier. His faith and love leave a lasting legacy, and he will be deeply missed.

We know you are dancing with Ruthi and Dave.

Wow! Well, it’s hard to know where to start. I have known Jerry my entire life, as the Smith family was my family’s (the Scudamore’s) back yard neighbors. I will always picture Jerry with his bib overalls  and bandana hankie. In my mind, I see him out in his back yard, working in his garden, or in his beloved garage. Insightfully, Ruthi made sure it had a phone, so she could stop constantly calling,  “J-E-R-R-Y” from her pearch at the backyard window, while seated at their kitchen table, for all the neighbors to hear! 

We were “adopted” family, celebrating birthdays & Christmas Eve’s together over the years. Jerry loved to tease me, but I always knew I was loved. My sister & I made frequent visits to Jerry’s, to raid his penny drawer, filled with candy, or to watch cartoons in the day room. We enjoyed watching shows we weren’t allowed to watch at home, like Scooby Doo & Dukes of Hazard - still one of my favorite’s! Otherwise, you could find me hanging out in Jerry’s garage and watching him fix mowers or mopeds. I loved using the grease cleaner, with ground pumice, that smelled like oranges! 

Jerry was always up for taking me with, to the Fox Valley Park District , where he helped run a kid’s program that included crafts & sports. I got rides on his motorcycle and will always remember his black riding boots. At church he was know as the “candy man”, always stuffing his pockets with gum & candy! I felt special, because he’d wrap his hand around mine to give me a whole pack of Juicy Fruit, instead of one stick. He invited me frequently on trips to DQ, where I collected most MLB baseball sunday helmets! 

In winter months, he often wore this big, fur hat, with a brim and ear flaps. He would look down at me, over the top of his glasses with a stern look, until I smiled  up at him, which quickly melted into a warm chuckle! As I got older, he let me drive his big truck to practice. I was soo nervous, but he always remained calm. Jerry was someone I could jump over the fence and get a BIG bear hug from, anytime I wanted!❤️ His hugs were the best!!

As an adult, I picked him up and took him out for lunch dates at Olive Garden. I heckled him about his Diet Pop, but could never get him to drink water! He teased me about being too healthy, because my mom would make us sit & eat an entire raw carrot, from the garden, at dinner! I will miss Jerry greatly, yet I’m soo very thankful he is now reunited with Ruthi, who he missed so much, and home with his Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ!