Raleigh Smith Jr.

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Raleigh Smith Jr., 79, Harrisburg, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, at the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale with his family at his side.

He was born in Rock Island on Jan. 3, 1931, to the late Raleigh Sr. and Eva (Lyons) Smith. He married Anita Cooper in January 1980.

He was a coal miner and retired after 44 years. He was a member of the Masonic Blazing Star Lodge of Carrier Mills and a member of the National Guard. He was also a member of the American Legion of Harrisburg. Raleigh was Baptist by faith.

Surviving family members include his wife, Anita Smith; two sons, David Smith and wife Janet of Carrier Mills and Tim Smith and wife Kay of O'Fallon; one stepdaughter, Faye Fleeger and husband Ken of Annandale, Minn.; grandchildren, Eddie and Brooke Hill of Carrier Mills, Joe and Brandi VanMeter of Carrier Mills, Ivan and Blair Maxwell of Tunnel Hill, Cory and Melissa Engelman of Hoyleton and Tony Smith of Belleville; a stepgranddaughter, Farrah Friedrich and husband Steve of Lake Elmo, Minn.; and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother; half-sister; and step-son, Dean Cooper.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, at Reed Funeral Chapel in Harrisburg. Jack Smith will officiate and the Rev. Jeff Owens will assist. Visitation will be held from noon to service time Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, at Reed Funeral Chapel in Harrisburg with Masonic rites at 2 p.m. Veteran's rites conducted by the Harrisburg American Legion and VFW will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family through the Obituary Page of the Internet site www.reedfuneralchapel.com.