Paul V. Smiley

Paul V. Smiley, age 76, of Savanna, Illinois, died Tuesday, April 3, 2007, at his home. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 7, 2007, at First United Methodist Church, Savanna, Illinois. Reverend Michael Jones of the York Baptist Church, Thomson, Illinois, will officiate. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Savanna, Illinois. Military rites will be accorded by the Savanna VFW Post 2223. A Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 6, 2007, at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. A memorial fund has been established in Paul’s memory.

Paul was born January 24, 1931, the son of Paul V. and Myrtle (Bailey) Smiley, Sr.. Paul graduated from the Savanna High School, Class of 1948. He was signed by the New York Yankees and then traded to the Chicago White Sox to play short stop for their minor league team in Clay Center, Kansas. Paul served in the United States Army during the Korean War and was awarded the Bronze Star. He attended DeVry Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois. Paul married Mary Rogers on November 14, 1953 in Savanna, Illinois.

Most important to Paul was his family, especially his grandchildren. Paul was a Commercial Fisherman and owned and operated Smiley’s Fish Market for forty-seven years. He enjoyed spending time on the Mississippi River hunting, fishing and relaxing. Paul was a life time member of Savanna VFW.

Paul will be dearly missed by his wife, Mary; one son, Paul (Monica) Smiley of Savanna; three daughters, Susan (Joel) Ritchie of Savanna, Laurie Smiley (Mike Bundy) of Savanna and Beth (Smiley) Phillips of Texarkana, Arkansas; eight grandchildren; one brother Gene Smiley of Savanna and one step-sister Lula Brock of Mt. Carroll, Illinois.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister and a step father, Harl Johnston.