David James Smith

David James (DJ) Smith of rural Lovington passed away at Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 23, 2019, at the Lovington United Methodist Church, with Pastor Larry Bricker officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Lovington United Methodist Church. Burial will be at a later date. The family requests that any memorials be made to the Lovington United Methodist Church, the Gideons International, or the Lovington Alumni Association. McMullin-Young Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.

DJ was born January 21, 1944, at Decatur and Macon County Hospital to James T. and Mildred Durchholz Smith. He had two younger sisters, Mary Beth Van Pelt of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and Martha (Robert) Taylor of Salt Lake City, Utah. He married Carol Rickey Smith in 1962. DJ cherished his three children: James Eric (Michele) Smith, Tracy Ann (Dennis) Garmon, and Terry Lynn (Tim) Phelps; his seven grandchildren: Blake Garmon, Alexandria (Trevor) Poe, Kyle (Courtney) Phelps, Kelsey (Jason) Bjork, Matthew Smith, Cole Garmon, and Lauren Smith; and his five great grandchildren: Makenna Poe, Easton Poe, Brock Phelps, Mackenzie Bjork, and Emmersyn Poe.

DJ farmed his family’s farm for over fifty years. He also drove a semi for fourteen years. He served on the Lovington School Board, the ambulance board, the LHS Alumni Association, and the administrative council and choir director at the Lovington United Methodist Church. DJ also has served as a certified lay servant at the Kenney United Methodist Church. He was very active in the Douglas-Moultrie Gideon Camp.

DJ enjoyed singing and he blessed us with his voice. He began singing in the UMC choir, and continued singing with the Alleluia Singers, Evenglow Singers, and the Singing Men of WGNN. He has also directed the community cantata for many years. Recently, he has enjoyed working with his church’s newly-formed youth group. DJ spent much of the summer boating with his family and friends on Lake Shelbyville, pulling them on skis, tubes, wave-runners and any other vehicle he could dump them from laughing all the way.

DJ will be remembered as a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and as a faithful friend. He is known for his leadership and guidance ability, warm heart, devotion to helping others and his bright smile. He will be missed.

He is survived by his wife, mother, sisters, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who all loved him deeply. He was preceded in death by his father.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com