Carl A. Smith

Carl A. Smith, 80, of Geneseo, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family, on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. A private funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at Vandemore Funeral Homes and Crematory – Geneseo Chapel. Reverend Dr. Chris Ritter will officiate.  Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. The funeral service will be live-streamed for friends and loved ones on the live stream services tab at www.vandemorefuneralhome.com.  A drive through visitation will be held from 4 – 6 p.m. on Tuesday, at the funeral home.  Due to COVID regulations, you will not be allowed to exit your vehicles.  Memorials may be directed to the Carl Smith Memorial Fund and will be distributed among several local charities.

Carl was born on April 11, 1940, the son of Gale and Doris (Hawthorne) Smith, in Cambridge, IL. He graduated from Cambridge High School while attending Lincoln Barber College. Carl proudly served in the Naval Reserves for eight years.  On June 29, 1957, he married Mary M. Schneider at the Methodist Church, Bishop Hill, IL. He owned and operated Carl’s Barber Shop, in Geneseo, IL, for 55 years. He has met multiple generations through those years.

Carl was a member of First United Methodist Church, Geneseo, and served on the building board. He was a Mason for over 50 years and in Jaycees for 15 years. He served on the Geneseo Park Board, boards of the Chamber of Commerce, and Geneseo Utilities, and numerous civic committees. Carl was president of the Isaac Walton League. He was instrumental in initiating and fundraising for the Geneseo Community Center. He coached Little League Baseball and Youth Football. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. His woodworking, carving, and lathe turning were a passion. He turned beautiful wood bowls for many people. He enjoyed morning coffee with the notorious liars’ club at several locations around town. He had a great group of friends.

Those left to cherish Carl’s memory include his wife, Mary; son, Brian (Sandy) Smith, Cambridge, IL; daughters, Deborah (Ken) Clemmons, Geneseo, Teresa (Gerald) Anthony, Atkinson, IL, and Patricia (Mike) Rusk, Geneseo; ten grandchildren, Jared, Jesse (Frank), Stan (Ashley), Doug (Heather), Kyle, Nicholas, Christopher, Seth (Jessica), Spencer (girlfriend, Macy Brants), and Sydney; fifteen great-grandchildren, Logan, Landon, Levi, Liam, Dameon, Bailee, Carson, Garrett, Hadley, Wyatt, Kayden, Kash, Khloe, Braxton, and Teddy; sister, Bette Clarke; and brother-in-law, Rodney Johnson.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Gale and Doris, and sisters, LaVonne Schumaker and Donna Johnson.