Ella Smoot

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Ella Louise Dover Smoot, 90, of Villa Ridge passed away Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at her home.

She was born April 9, 1919, in Grand Chain, Ill., daughter of Dewey Dover Sr. and Flora Ann Murphy Dover.

Ella attended Villa Ridge Union Church and later joined Caledonia Community Church in Olmsted, Ill. She enjoyed visiting area churches as well.

Her love of art introduced to her by her daughter-in-law, Charlotte, brought her much joy over the years. Her paintings are in many homes and local businesses. She enjoyed traveling in later years.

She and Floyd R. Smoot were married April 15, 1938, in St. Louis. He died May 19, 2001.

Ella was also preceded in death by her parents; an infant son; a beloved son, Gary Smoot; brother and sister-in-law, James and Shirley Dover; and a brother, Dewey Dover Jr.

She leaves to mourn her passing two daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia (Ken) Hogendobler of Virginia Beach, Va., Emma (Gerald) Malone of Villa Ridge; a daughter-in-law, Charlotte Calvert (Jack) Piel of Huntersville, N.C.; four grandchildren, Patricia (Rev. Joey) Dunning, David (Sherrie) Malone, Dr. Matthew Hogendobler, and Mark Hogendobler; six great-grandchildren, Jenna, Tayler, and Aryn Malone, Laura, Christian and Makayla Dunning.

Also two brothers, Raymond Dover, Bill (Connie) Dover of Grand Chain; two sisters, Alice Inman of Grand Chain, Elizabeth Taylor of Karnak, Ill.; two sisters-in-law, Betty Jo Dover of Karnak, Bertha Lingle of Anna, Ill.; several nieces and nephews.

Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. today at Liberty Cemetery in rural Pulaski, Ill., with the Rev. Joey Dunning and the Rev. John Windings officiating.

Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery prior to service time.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorials to Caledonia Christian Academy, 10076 State Highway 37, Olmsted, IL 62970, in memory of Ella Smoot.

Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge is in charge of arrangements.