Mary "Betty" Smoak

Mary (Betty) Smoak, 88, crossed over to be with her Lord on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at her home in Northlake, IL. Mary was married to Robert (Bob) Murat Smoak from March 1949 until his death in November, 1982.

She leaves behind her daughters, Gayle (Mark) Gibbs of Safety Harbor, FL; Carolyn Smoak of Elmhurst, IL; Sherry Smoak (Steve King) of Elmhurst, IL, and four grandchildren; Malcolm (Melinda) Gibbs, Cain Gibbs, Sarah and Miles King and two great-grandchildren, Madeline and Lucas Gibbs and her sisters; Helen Scott and Louise Welch of Florence County, SC. Mary was pre-deceased by her sisters Carrie, Valerie and Lulu and her brothers Horace, Hayward and Kenny.

Born in Florence County, SC, on October 4, 1927, she was the daughter of James Benjamin Powell and Sarah (Sally) Parker Powell of Florence County, SC. Mary graduated from Scranton High School in 1944 during WWII. Following High School Mary graduated from Draughn Business College. After WWII, Mary moved to Columbia, SC from Charleston, SC and started her career with WIS-TV in 1952 until her retirement in 1988. She continued to work part-time, as needed, with the local TV stations until 1999.

A spry 86 year old, Mary relocated to the Chicago suburb of Northlake in the summer of 2014, to be close to her daughters and grandchildren. Mary enjoyed living at Casa San Carlo, an independent living community, where she was active in Wii bowling, playing bunco, enjoying meals and movies with her friends and spending time with her family. An avid plant lover, she enjoyed growing her flowers, completing her puzzle books, playing her pop-it game on her phone and texting her friends and family. A devoted friend and mother, Mary will be deeply missed by all those that had the privilege to know and love her. Eminently practical, Mary was a strong, courageous woman who had an enormous will to live life and enjoy her friends and family.

A visitation will be held on Friday, May 6, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The celebration service of Mary’s life will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 11:00 am. Mary’s beloved son-in-law, Steve King, will officiate her celebration service and Peter Mauriello of Chicago, IL will sing Christian songs specifically chosen by Mary for her service. Both the visitation and service will be held at Dunbar Funeral Home, 7600 Woodrow Street, Irmo, SC 29063.Burial will be at Woodridge Memorial Park, 138 Corley Mill Road, Lexington, SC 29072.

“Yesterday is already a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision; but TODAY, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of HOPE.”

Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com. Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, is assisting the family.