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Join MemoriesCatherina Smith Jeff was born in Harlan, Kentucky. Throughout his childhood, Jeff lived in Kentucky, Virginia, East Peoria, IL; Sunnyland, IL; Dunlap, IL; Shreveport, LA; Charleston, IL; and Spring Bay, IL.
Catherina Smith Little Jeffy! He hated that nickname, but it comes to mind when looking at this photo.
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Catherina Smith That sunny, happy smile!
Catherina Smith Christmas 1966 with Mom/Pat and Grandma/Margaret. Jeff, age 16 months Cathy, age 3
Catherina Smith Staying with Grandma and waiting for Little Sister, Michelle, to be born. Jeff looks VERY excited about it!
Catherina Smith Big Sister’s birthday Jeff, age 2
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Catherina Smith Christmas 1967 Jeff, aged 2 Cathy, age 4 Michelle, age 5 months
Catherina Smith Oh, that cute face!
Catherina Smith Michelle and Jeff
Catherina Smith In the yard in Sunnyland
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Catherina Smith Splashin’ around...
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Michelle Crawford 4 little monkeys jumping on the bed....Jeff around age 5.
Catherina Smith Off to 1st Grade (Cathy) and Kindergarten (Jeff)
Catherina Smith Jeff's first school, John L Hensey Elementary School, in Sunnyland, IL.
Catherina Smith His house was within walking distance of the school.
Catherina Smith Left to right: Jeff, Cathy, Michelle, Julia
Catherina Smith Left to right: Julia, Michelle, Jeff, Cathy
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Catherina Smith Grandma Meisinger brought Grandma Joos for a visit. Left to right, front row: Cathy, Julia, Michelle, Jeff Back row: Mom, Tim, Great-grandma Joos
Catherina Smith Lunch at Aunt Cheryl’s before we moved to Shreveport, LA. Left to right, front row: Nicole, Tim, Julia Back row: Cathy, Jeff, Michelle
Catherina Smith Playing in the backyard! We spent lots of time on the swing set and playing Bike Shop under the weeping willow tree.
Catherina Smith Fun with the Speers family... Left to right: Michelle, Jeff, Julia, Debbie Speers, David Speers
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Catherina Smith Grandma Meisinger brought Great-grandma Joos to Charleston for a visit. Left to right, front row: Jeff, Cathy, Michelle, Julia Back row: Mom/Pat, Tim, Grandma Meisinger, Great-grandma Joos Walking away: the DiMartino’s dog who drank beer sometimes
Catherina Smith With Grandpa Happ Left to right: Tim, Jeff, Grandpa, Michell
Catherina Smith Somebody was NOT a happy camper!
Catherina Smith Celebrating everybody finally being home after the accident in January 1975. Left to right: Michelle, Jeff, Cathy (in a halo cast), Julia
Catherina Smith Left to right: Tim, Jeff, neighbor/friend (?), Julia, Michelle
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Catherina Smith Big Guy with the two Little Guys! Left to right: Tim, Jeff, Bryant (the next-door neighbor boy)
Catherina Smith About to head back home to Charleston after a visit to Grandma Meisinger’s... Left to right: Michelle, Tim, Cathy, Julia, Mom/Pat (with Sara in the oven), and Jeff
Catherina Smith Uncle Bruce and Jeff
Catherina Smith Jeff and his horse picture at Grandma Meisinger’s farm.
Catherina Smith Julia’s birthday Left to right: Jeff, Cathy, Julia, Michelle, Sara, Grandma Meisinger, and Tim
Catherina Smith Jeff lived on Meadowlark Lane in Spring Bay, IL, from 1977 to 1984.
Catherina Smith Jeff attended 7th and 8th grade at Riverview Grade School in Spring Bay, IL.
Catherina Smith Pleased about something!
Catherina Smith Jeff detasseled corn as a summer job for several years. Even back then, he wanted to give away the money he made.
Catherina Smith In 8th grade, Jeff achieved a 1st Place ribbon finish in the Science Fair.
Catherina Smith Jeff participated as a player (a guard) in the Madrigal Dinner in 1979
Catherina Smith Jeff and Uncle Denny
Catherina Smith Cousins! (except Tori) Front row, left to right: Sara, Rob, Tim Middle: Nicole, Michelle Back row: Cathy, Paul, John, Jeff, Mark, Julia
Catherina Smith Ok, Grandma Meisinger added Tori to the photo a few years later! :o)
Catherina Smith Jeff played a major lead role in the Spring Musical, Mame. He was Young Patrick, Auntie Mame’s nephew.
Catherina Smith Jeff in the Concert Choir in Sophomore year. Jeff is in the center of the 2nd row from the back.
Catherina Smith Left to right: Sara, Tim, Julia, Cathy, Michelle, Jeff Everyone has a gift, so not sure what we were celebrating.
Catherina Smith Big brother and little sister, Sara, at Grandma and Roy’s farm.
Catherina Smith Jeff was involved in Concert Choir in his Junior year. Jeff is standing by the right shoulder of the Director, Mr. Applegate.
Tori Bradford At the Christian Center (Peoria, IL) for a family reunion.
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Catherina Smith In his Junior year, Jeff served as the Equipment Manager for the Varsity Baseball Team. He is in the middle of the front bench.
Catherina Smith Jeff graduated from Metamora Township High School in 1983.
Catherina Smith Senior picture
Catherina Smith Jeff moved to Leavenworth, Kansas.
Catherina Smith Jeff made it to Fort Worth, Texas, which was his home for many years.
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Catherina Smith Haha! Jeff is probably thinking, "What Newbs!"
Catherina Smith All the siblings together at Tori and Steve's wedding. Front row: Tim, Tori, Jeff Back row: Michelle, Julia, Cathy, Sara
Michelle Crawford Jeff took to the highways as a truck driver delivering goods all across the country for many years. He would brag proudly to me of his enormous DVD collection he was acquiring along the way. Stevens Transport was one of the companies he drove with, and there’s rarely a road trip I make I don’t think of him.
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Catherina Smith The Happ men
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Catherina Smith Family Reunion and celebration of Grandma Meisinger's 80th birthday.
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Catherina Smith Another step in Jeff’s dream of being an advocate for at-risk children.
Catherina Smith Jeff’s last job, Service Tech for DH Pace.
Catherina Smith Jeff, looking fierce! But, we know the softie he was underneath! (As far as we know, this was the last photo taken of Jeff before he went into the hospital in November 2020.)
Catherina Smith Happy Birthday to Jeff!!! Still so hard to accept he is no longer with us on this planet. I believe today will be one of his happiest birthdays EVER!!! ❤️😇🎉🎂🥳🕺🏻 (From Michelle...8/13/2021)