DATELINE: Jerseyville
NAME: Pastor Leslie H. Smay, Jr
Died: October 20, 2017 at 6:05 p.m. on Friday at Jerseyville Manor At the age of 93.
Leslie Howard Smay, Jr. was born August 7, 1924 in Macoupin County, Il. He was born to Leslie Howard Smay, Sr and Martha Marie (Jones) Smay. He was the youngest child of three. His mother died when he was two years old and his older sisters took up the care of their baby brother. They often doted over him and he spoke fondly of Ellen and Ruth for their role in his early upbringing. His father eventually remarried and Leslie gained nine more siblings. Leslie loved his brothers and sisters and spoke to them with reverence and respect, always. They developed a tight knit family woven with the love of God. He grew up a farmer's son through the years of the Great Depression. He knew hard work at a young age. His father instilled in him work ethics that would follow him throughout his life. Leslie never shrunk away from hard work and persevered to the end of many of life’s tasks. When he was 18 years old he joined the United States Navy where he served until the duration of World War II. There he was engaged in the European Theater of War in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. He married Mary Imogene Bilbruck in November of 1945. They raised a family of five: Loretta, Ronald, Leslie Martin, Mary Ellen Maxine, and David. Leslie worked as an electrician at the Alton Boxboard until retirement, to provide for his family financially and to ensure to meet their physical needs. He became a youth minister at the Methodist Church when his children were young. He lived a Godly example for his family. Later he became an ordained minister for Open Door Fellowship Church in Jerseyville, IL. He worked with various ministerial alliances as a teacher and counselor. Leslie worked in his later years as a minister and counselor for First Fruits Ministry in Jerseyville, IL. He developed many warm relationships with the people he ministered to and many speak fondly of “Brother Les” and the time spent under his teaching. He was a very considerate man, nonjudgmental, and charitable. He sought to teach others through love and wisdom from the Bible, which he demonstrated by example. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and "great" grandchildren. One could often find him joking with his "great" grandchildren and imparting to them words to live by. Leslie Howard Smay, Jr. will be deeply missed. Graveside Services will be held at1:00 p.m. Wednesday October 25, 2017 at Gilead Cemetery in Hettick, IL with Military Graveside Rites by Jerseyville American Legion Post 492. A Memorial Servicewill follow at4:00 p.m. Wednesday at Open Door House of Praise, 512 June St Jerseyville, IL. Officiating the memorial will be his son, Pastor Leslie Martin Smay and Pastor James Driver. Memorials can be made to, First Fruits Christian Ministry in Jerseyville, IL, In Lieu of flowers. Survivors are his children: Loretta and Dick Dawdy of Godfrey, IL, Pastor Leslie Martin and Melissa Smay of Kane, IL, Mary Ellen Maxine and Wayne Lester of Jerseyville, IL, David and Polly Smay of Kane, IL. Brothers:Curtis Glen Smay of Forest Homes, IL, Roy Edward Smay of Jerseyville, IL, Gary Smay of Virginia, IL along with 12 Grandchildren and 32 Great Grandchildren. Proceeded in Death by his parents, wife, son-Ronald Earnest Smay, 2 grandsons-Shannon Dawdy and Ralph Delbert Smay, and 8 siblings.
ALEXANDER & GUBSER FUNERAL HOME
IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS
