Ronald L. Smith, 78, of Olney, passed away on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at Helia Healthcare in Olney.  Ron was born on December 12, 1939 in Olney, IL, the son of Roy Lee Smith and Ruth Marie (Gardner) Kester.  He married Lauralee (Osmer) on December 27, 1972 in Beardstown, IL.  She survives him.

Ron was a member of the Elks in Beardstown, IL and a member of the American Legion in Olney, and a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olney. He served in the US Army in the 1960's. Ron taught the fundamentals of crime scene investigation at the IBI in Springfield, IL. He also worked the Downstate Innocence Project for many years. Ron enjoyed golfing and spending time with his family. He was always helping others and would go out of his way to get people the help they needed. Ron enjoyed telling a good story and meeting his friends for coffee.

Ron is survived by his wife, Lauralee Smith of Olney; sons, Matt Smith and wife Kathy of Lafayette, IN and Jason Smith and wife Jane of Noble, IL; daughter, Ellen Smith of Louisville, KY; grandchildren, Jake Smith, Jarod Smith, Connor Harrison, and Savannah Smith; sisters, Kim Heindselman of Noble and Lisa Perry of Bozman, MT; step-sister, Sandy Smith of Tucson, AZ; step-brother, Beto Smith of Mexico; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and step-father, Walter Kester.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 5, 2018 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olney, with a visitation beginning one hour prior.  Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Olney.  Full Military Rites will be performed at the graveside.

Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home, Olney obituary & photo – June 29, 2018