Clarence Earl “Smitty” Smith, 81, of Olney passed away on December 9th at home following a short illness.

Son of William & Eleanor Smith, he was born in Washington, Indiana in 1942, moving to Olney when he was a young boy. He graduated from ERHS in 1960. Following high school, Clarence took a correspondence course in art and learned he had a gift for it. He did sign painting as a side job for years.

He married Julia Rector on June 21, 1980 in Olney. She survives.

He was a paid firefighter for the Olney Fire Department and retired after 33 years of dedicated service to the community.

Clarence was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge, a member of the Richland Country Club, County Line Rod & Gun Club, and the Richland Heritage Museum Foundation. He was also a Big Brothers mentor for five years and an administrator for the Tiger Alumni Center, as well as serving on the Lifetime Achievement Awards Committee. Clarence took pride in the work he did helping to provide scholarships for RCHS students.

Clarence and wife Julia enjoyed riding their motorcycle and, as a lifetime member of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, they rode in all 48 states. He also participated in countless car shows over the years with his prized Corvette. The vast number of trophies in his collection are testament to his love of and success at exhibiting his Corvette.

Clarence was a man who loved his family fiercely, and was deeply proud of his daughters, his stepchildren, his grandsons, and his great granddaughters. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed by countless people.

Clarence is survived by his wife Julia, daughters Michelle (Greg) Swanson of Bear Lake, MI, Lori (Mark) Allen of Olney, and Stacey Smith of Olney, stepchildren Kara (Roger) Rector-Duncan and Kevin Rector, both of Olney, grandsons Cory Swanson, Joshua (Yuri Zambryckij) Swanson, and Ryan Rector, great granddaughters Layla and Kayanne Swanson, nephews Nate (Rachel) Richardson, Travis Pruitt, and Tanner Pruitt, brother Ed (Dale) Smith, and sisters Nancy Troxel and Judy (Ken) Littlejohn.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Patricia Richardson.

Memorials may be made to Richland County Hope, Claws & Paws of Olney, or RIP Medical Debt (a non-profit who buys crushing medical debt owed by the neediest people across the country and wipes their debt clear, transforming lives and altering futures for millions of people so far. Every $1 in donations buys and clears $100 in medical debt.)

The visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 15, 2023, with funeral services at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 16, 2023. Both will be held at Kistler-Patterson funeral home in Olney. Interment will follow the funeral service at Haven Hill Cemetery in Olney.

Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home, Olney, IL