Advertisement

Helen “Mern” <I>Downey</I> Smallwood

Advertisement

Helen “Mern” Downey Smallwood

Birth
Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, USA
Death
10 Oct 2018 (aged 100)
Knoxville, Knox County, Illinois, USA
Burial
Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
Helen Downey “Mern” Smallwood, 100, of Galesburg, died at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 10, 2018 in the Knox County Nursing Home in Knoxville.

She was born November 5, 1917, in Galesburg, the daughter of Thomas H. and Lena M. (Roberts) Downey. She married George Jackson in 1935, in Macomb. She later married Kenneth McGill in 1969, in Galesburg, and Rulif C. Smallwood in 1987, in Galesburg. All three of her husbands preceded her in death.

She is survived by two sons, Richard D. “Dick” Jackson of Berwick and R. Terry (Joyce) Jackson of Galesburg; two step daughters, Sharon (Jack) Frazier and Karen (Danny) Cabrera, both of Galesburg; five grandchildren; four step grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; step great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Tommy Jackson; a grandson, Jody Jackson; a daughter-in-law, Marilyn Jackson; a brother, Russell Downey; and two sisters, Irene McKee and Eula VanFleet.

In addition to being a homemaker, Helen had worked at Protexall, Inc., the Onion Factory in Rio, and W.T. Grant’s. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was on the Senior Citizens Bowling League. Mern loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will always be remembered for her homemade noodles.

Visitation will be 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, October 13, 2018 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel. Funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. at the chapel with Pastor Mary Runge officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
Helen Downey “Mern” Smallwood, 100, of Galesburg, died at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 10, 2018 in the Knox County Nursing Home in Knoxville.

She was born November 5, 1917, in Galesburg, the daughter of Thomas H. and Lena M. (Roberts) Downey. She married George Jackson in 1935, in Macomb. She later married Kenneth McGill in 1969, in Galesburg, and Rulif C. Smallwood in 1987, in Galesburg. All three of her husbands preceded her in death.

She is survived by two sons, Richard D. “Dick” Jackson of Berwick and R. Terry (Joyce) Jackson of Galesburg; two step daughters, Sharon (Jack) Frazier and Karen (Danny) Cabrera, both of Galesburg; five grandchildren; four step grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; step great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Tommy Jackson; a grandson, Jody Jackson; a daughter-in-law, Marilyn Jackson; a brother, Russell Downey; and two sisters, Irene McKee and Eula VanFleet.

In addition to being a homemaker, Helen had worked at Protexall, Inc., the Onion Factory in Rio, and W.T. Grant’s. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was on the Senior Citizens Bowling League. Mern loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will always be remembered for her homemade noodles.

Visitation will be 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, October 13, 2018 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel. Funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. at the chapel with Pastor Mary Runge officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.


Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement

  • Created by: JMW
  • Added: Oct 10, 2018
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193884811/helen-smallwood: accessed ), memorial page for Helen “Mern” Downey Smallwood (5 Nov 1917–10 Oct 2018), Find a Grave Memorial ID 193884811, citing Memorial Park Cemetery, Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by JMW (contributor 47184656).