Leland Edwin "Smitty" Smith Sr.

Mr. Smith was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce. As a youth he stole the show when he won a State-wide Table Tennis Tournament in Texas. He was also awarded a scholarship to play football for Baylor University and served in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Thornton during World War II. In 1961 Smitty started Grandpa’s Jewelry which eventually grew to 18 stores. In 2000, he opened L.E. Smith Jewelers.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents Leland H., and Lissette, nee Baumgart, Smith.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Gloria "Gayle", nee Ballew, Smith; three sons, Leland E. (Sherri Lowe) Smith, Jr., James C. (Lisa) Smith, and Casey V. Smith; five daughters, Georgia C. (Troy) Crites, Gloria H. (Tom) Fayollat, Cindy G. (Mack) Fortenberry, June M. (Mike) Zavaglia, and Susan J. Smith; 15 grandchildren, Troy David Crites, Nicol Crites, Tom Fayollat, Jr., Tracy Pickford, Quinton Smith, Chanelle Smith, Lauren Smith, Cody Hopkins, Kendall Hopkins, Garrett Zavaglia, Shane Zavaglia, Jordan Zavaglia, Jake Fortenberry, Nikki Fortenberry, and Zeke Fortenberry; 12 great-grandchildren, Vivian Crites, Jonah Crites, Coleton Rice, Trey Fayollat, Frankie Fayollat, Chloe Pickford, and Kacey Smith, Alexis Mabry, Brydon Mabry, Cambria Mabry, Daycee Mabry, and Olivia Fortenberry; one brother, George W. Smith; two sisters, Betty Swan and Barbara Smith; and many other relatives and friends.

Memorials may be made VNA-TIP Hospice, 720 W. Main St., Belleville, IL 62220. Online condolences may be expressed at www.lakeviewfuneralhm.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4:00 till 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 7, 2011 at Lake View Funeral Home, 5000 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights, IL.

Funeral: Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at Lake View Funeral Home. Entombment will follow in Lake View Memorial Gardens.