Earl "Cotton" Smith

August 12, 1931 - January 18, 2013

Mr. Earl M. "Cotton" Smith, 81, of Vandalia, passed away at 5:10am, Friday, January 18, 2013 at Palm Terrace of Mattoon, IL. A graveside service will be held at 10:30am, Friday, January 25, 2013 at Evans Cemetery with Rev. Pete LeDuc officiating, rural Vandalia, IL.  Military Rites accorded at graveside by Crawford-Hale American Legion Post # 95, Vandalia, IL. Memorials may be made to Evans Cemetery or Brownstown VFW Post #9770. Cotton was born August 12, 1931, in Seminary Twp, the son of Ira and Maude (Tedrick) Smith.  He married Shirley Jones on November 28, 1952, she preceded him in death March 26, 2007.  Cotton was in the US Army and served during the Korean War, he was a farmer and also worked out of the Salem Carpenters Union.  He was a member of the Brownstown VFW Post #9770 and Vandalia American Legion Post #95. He is survived by daughters Ruth Ann and husband Bob Casey of Vandalia, IL and Coni and husband Raymond Woolsey of Vandalia, IL; sons Curtis Smith of Vandalia, IL and Melvin Smith and wife Cindy of Vandalia, IL; sister-in-laws Anita Smith and Betty Stone of Vandalia, IL; Grandchildren Kam Hill, Kyle Hill, Mandy Smith Tinker, Tyson Smith, Chase Woolsey, Colton Woolsey, Cody Woolsey, and Ashley Berquette; and great grandchildren Eli Smith, Emily Mays-Hill, Makayla Tinker, and Kaleb Tinker.  He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brothers Clarence Smith, Everett Smith, Ted Davis, OJ Davis, Raymond Davis; sisters Alice Quandt and Mildred Dye.