Robert I. "Popeye" Smith

May 30, 1931 - December 17, 2020

Robert I. “Popeye” Smith, 89, of Manito, passed away at 1:26 p.m., on Thursday, December 17, 2020, at Mason District Hospital in Havana. He was born May 30, 1931, in Manito, Illinois, to Ruby Smith. He married Patsy Jean Lauderdale on June 5, 1954 at First Methodist Church in Peoria, Illinois. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Patsy, of Manito; one daughter, Kelly Jean (Richard) Scott of Grafton, IL; three sons: Kyle Robert, Kirby Hiram and Kirk David, of Manito; and sister-in-law, Barbara (Michael) Sullivan of Dunlap, IL. He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruby; one daughter, Kimberly Jo Kelly; aunt, Mildred Smith; and two uncles: Oscar and Bill Smith. Bob graduated from Western Illinois University and received his Master’s Degree from Lewis University. Bob and his family lived in Grayslake, IL for 40 years, from 1956 until 1996. He taught and coached at Grayslake for 12 years, then in Waukegan, IL for 25 years. He worked the first 13 years for Blue Star Chips, running a route on Saturdays, school holidays, and summers. He refereed football, basketball and baseball games. He coached the American Legion Baseball team in Grayslake and also ran a baseball program for 1st through 8th graders in the summer. He also pitched in a Sunday morning baseball league for several seasons. Bob was a P.E. teacher and coached football and boys and girls basketball. He coached soccer for two years, but his love was baseball. After going to Waukegan, he served three terms on the Grayslake Grade School Board of Education. Bob was so proud of his family, especially his grandchildren: Jessie Eric Scott and his wife, Paige and their two boys: Beckett and Wade, of Cedarburg, WI; Sarah Jean Scott and her fiancée, Brian of Melbourne, FL, as well as Sgt. Vincent Paul Smith (Kyle’s son) of the Marines in Okinawa, Japan. While in Grayslake, Bob played baseball and basketball for Grayslake in the Shoreline League. Later, he played a lot of golf. He had three holes in one. Bob and Pat moved to Manito in 1996 and attended many basketball and baseball games. From 2000 until 2010, Bob ran an exercise program for seniors at the Forman Center. Graveside services will be held at Meadowlawn Cemetery, in Manito, at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 30, 2020. Rev. Steve Oaks will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to Manito Community United Methodist Church. Online memorial messages may be left for the family at www.hurleyfh.com. Maas-Hurley Funeral Home in Manito is in charge of arrangements.