Jeri Lou Smith

Canton – Jeri Lou Smith, 79, of Canton died Tuesday, October 6, 2015, at Sunset Manor in Canton.
She was born October 23, 1935, in Evergreen Park, to Chester H. Jr. and Mildred (McWilliams) Wason, both who preceded her in death.  She married John Marion Smith on December 13, 1961, at the First Presbyterian Church in Canton.  He survives.
Also surviving are her son, Ronald Gene (Susan) Smith; two grandchildren, Chad Arthur Smith and Jennifer Lyn (Robert) Regan; five great-grandchildren, Alex Ean Smith, Marley Jane Smith, Lily Ann Smith, Kennedi Faith Regan, and Carsyn Rae Regan; and one half-brother, John Blair Wason.
One granddaughter, Jaime Kay Smith, preceded her in death.
She was raised in Chicago by her father for her first 7 years.  When she was 8, she spent a year in a boarding school in a downtown area of Chicago.  She then went to spend 7 years with her paternal grandparents, Chester H. Sr. and Rena Wason, in Canton.  The next 3 years she was sent to live with her mother in Portland, Oregon, where she attended Grant, Lincoln, and Jefferson High Schools, graduating in 1953.  In 1954, she returned to Canton where she resided until her death.
Jeri was employed by Canton Union School District #66, for 34 years, retiring in 1992.  Before that she had worked at Knepps & Reicherts Jewelry Store.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for over 60 years, where she was a former Deacon, Elder, and Trustee.  She transferred her membership to the Evangelical Free Church of Canton in 2009.
She loved fishing, swimming, tennis, painting, travel, flower gardening, decorating, and “just puttering”, visiting all 50 states and many different countries over the years.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 9, 2015, at Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Canton, where visitation will be held one hour prior to services.  Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Canton.
Memorials may be made to the Canton Evangelical Free Church.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com