Mary Lou (Hebert) Smith, passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation, in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, She was born the sixth of eight children to Phillip and Flossie (Edwards) Hebert on Sunday, July 7, 1929, in Assumption, Illinois. Mary Lou married Gene Smith on June 10, 1949. They had two children, Greg “Smitty” and Stella.
At the age of 13, Mary Lou’s mother passed away, and she assumed the role of chief cook, bottle washer, Keeping house and preparing meals for her father, two siblings and occasionally farm hands. All meals were prepared on a wood stove and without a single written recipe.
Upon graduation from high school in 1948, she moved to Bloomington, Illinois and went to work at State Farm Insurance. Shortly thereafter, her father called her, asking her to move back home. She agreed and returned to Assumption, getting a job at a local bank. This was about the same time a handsome new school teacher moved to town. They met, fell in love and were married the next year.
Immediately after their wedding, they moved to Wyoming for Gene to attend summer school, working on his Master’s Degree. In 1951, they returned to Wyoming where they lived for eight years. in 1959, with two small children in tow, they returned to Grayville. Mary Lou spent her life caring for her family. If you were ever in her home, you knew it was a job she cherished.
There wasn’t much she couldn’t do, but quilting was her passion. She helped establish the Friendship Quilters Guild and even made a quilt for her nursing home bed.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years; her parents; brothers, Ted, Leon, Lawrence and Noel; and sisters, Eleanor, Phyllis and Baby Mary (stillborn).
Mary Lou is survived by her children, Greg “Smitty” (Betty) Smith of Grayville, IL. and Stella (John) Balding of Mt. Carmel, IL.
The family wishes to give a heartfelt thank you to all of the staff at Oakview Nursing and Rehab for the care and love that they showed Mary Lou.
In keeping with her wishes, she will be cremated and along with Gene’s ashes they will be buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Grayville, Illinois. A memorial visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2026, in the chapel of Roberts and Cook Funeral Service in Grayville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Grayville Senior Citizens Center or to the Wabash County Animal Shelter Buddies. Roberts and Cook Funeral Service has been entrusted with arrangements.
