Kathryn C. (Craig) Smith

Kathryn C. Smith, age 82 of Pittsfield, IL passed away Sunday, November 5, 2023, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, IL. She was born in New Brunswick, NJ on December 13, 1940, to Richard Anderson and Kathryn Prestinari Craig. Kathryn first married Donald Sperry in Yorkville, IL in 1960 and to this union three sons were born; she later married A. Leon Smith May 2, 1981, in Pittsfield, IL and he preceded her in death January 17, 2014.

Kathy grew up in Boundbrook, NJ and Ottawa, IL and graduated from Ottawa High School. Following graduation, she attended Bradley University and went on to receive her secretarial degree from Moser Secretarial School in Chicago. Kathy moved to Pittsfield in 1969 and worked at Baylis School as the school secretary and then was a guidance counselor secretary at Pittsfield High School until her retirement in 1989. Kathy was a social member of her community who enjoyed her summer pool buddy group, her Red Dome girls, spending Friday nights at the Moose and eating out with friends. She could always be seen around town riding her scooter or enjoying golf cart rides with her buddy, Jack. Kathy wintered in both Port Aransas, TX and Sanibel Island, FL where she enjoyed spending time with her sons and her Texas crew. She could often be found tending to her yard and visiting with neighbors. Kathy loved family holidays, watching her grandkids play hockey and baseball, and enjoyed attending birthday and graduation parties. Kathy was always upbeat, happy and liked to have fun, enjoyed people and didn’t know a stranger; an apt description of her would be, “she loved life and lived it”!

Kathy is survived by sons, Craig (Connie) Sperry of Rushville, IL, David (Beth) Sperry of Maryville, IL and Thomas (April Stewart) Sperry of South Roxana, IL; step-children, Phillip (Vera) Smith of Gonzales, LA and Janet Smith of San Francisco, CA; grandchildren, Jack (Hannah Drowns) Sperry, Jason (Sydney) Sperry, Cory (Lexi Barendregt) Sperry, and Hope Stewart-Sperry; step-grandchildren, Candice O’Meara, Brenden Ankrom and Cassie Ward; step-grandchildren, Jonathan (Kathleen) Smith and Matthew Smith; great grandchildren, Josephine Sperry, Landon O’Meara and Clarie O’Meara; and nieces, Cathy (Art) Schultz, Penny (Greg) Berlin, Dawn (Carl) Lum and Robin (Steve) Perez.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Kathryn Craig; husband, Leon Smith; brother, Richard Craig; and daughter-in-law, Zona Sperry.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, November 10, 2023, at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield with visitation held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Thursday, November 9, 2023, at the funeral home. Interment will follow the funeral service at Crescent Heights Cemetery in Pleasant Hill, IL. Memorials are suggested to be made to Crescent Heights Cemetery or Pike County Animal Shelter. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.nieburfh.com. Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is handling the arrangements.

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