Georgia Louise Smith left this world on December 18, 2023, after a long and exceedingly fantastic life.

Louise was born to William & Josephine Hawes in Crittenden Kentucky on December 22, 1932. She grew up in Murphysboro, Illinois where she graduated in 1950 and met her husband, Clifford C. Smith. They were married in Osceola, Arkansas on September 17, 1951.

Louise and Cliff raised their family in Granite City, Illinois. Louise spent her spare time serving the community through organizations like Order of the Eastern Star, Business Professional Women, Saint Elizabeth's Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, Girl Scouts River Bluffs Council, Boy Scouts of America, and served as a trustee at the First United Presbyterian Church. Professionally, Louise worked in real estate with her husband and retired as a bookkeeper at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital.

Louise loved to travel. She and Cliff hauled the trailer, three children and Lucky (her beloved chihuahua) across the country many times. She had the privilege of visiting 49 states and 10 countries, but nothing compared to the lights of Las Vegas where she returned nearly 50 times.

Her heart yearned to help others. She donated to charities for Indigenous children and the environment. She sponsored an immigrant family through her church, followed the AIDS crisis with a heavy heart, and never let a stray kitty go hungry. Louise was a class act.

In her final years, Louise was cared for in the homes of both of her surviving children until the battle with Parkinson's Disease became too great.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William & Josephine; her husband, Cliff; her brother, Charles Hawes; her daughter, Deborah Grove; and two sons-in-law: John Essington and William Grove. Louise is survived by two children: Laura Essington and James Smith (Rhoda); five grandchildren: Andrew Grove (Rhonda), Daniel Essington, Melissa Pitts (Nick), Christina Gibson (Anthony) and Jennifer Smith; and eight great grandchildren: Nova, Dalton, Josie, Kaitlyn, Olivia, Cecilia, Amelia, and Elijah.

Services will be held at Sunset Hill Funeral Home, 50 Fountain Drive, Glen Carbon, Illinois with visitation Friday, December 22, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. and the funeral service will begin at 1:00 p.m. The burial will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Glen Carbon, Illinois.