Joan Elizabeth (Storer) Smallwood (84) of Olney

Joan Elizabeth (Storer) Smallwood, age 84, loving mother of four and adoring wife to husband G. Dean Smallwood, passed away in the late hours of Friday, December 24, 2021, after a life-altering stroke over fourteen years ago.

Joan was born September 29, 1937, in Olney, Illinois, daughter of Loren Oliver and Kathaleen (Sayre) Storer, and grew up with her dear sister and brother as her best friends and playmates. Joan met the love of her life in 1956 while roller skating and married him on June 28, 1958. Together Dean and Joan worked to raise their family, have fun and farm. Joan loved her family dearly and enjoyed every opportunity to have her family together for celebrations. She saw the potential in people and never hesitated to give a helping hand or words of encouragement. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Olney, Illinois for over 60 years, where she taught Sunday school for over 20 of those years to Pre-K, then Second Grade and eventually the JOY class for adults. She enjoyed hosting parties for the JOY class and truly loved each and every one of the class members. Her heart for serving led her to regularly volunteering at the Good Samaritan along-side her dear classmates. Prior to her marriage, Joan worked at the Olney Garment Factory as a Quality Inspector. She loved to read and sew, making many clothing items over the years, including an Elvis costume, a Santa suit and a wedding dress with 3500 hand-stitched beads. She demonstrated her faith throughout her life, even after she survived a severe stroke, August 13, 2007, that left her paralyzed. Her earthly world changed from always helping and doing for others, including caring for and playing with greatgrand-children, to depending completely on others for her own daily care. The only thing she could do for herself was pray; and pray she did. She prayed for anyone and everyone. She did some of her most powerful witnessing from a wheelchair and later from her bed. We will miss her laughter and bright smile, her sense of humor and most importantly her ever present faith in her Lord Jesus Christ.

Joan is survived by her husband and children: son, Clinton (Janet) Smallwood, of Nora Springs, Iowa; daughters, Carla (Craig) Patterson, of Olney, Illinois, Wendy (Dan) Johnson, of Flora, Illinois, and Glenda (Paul) Croegaert of Richmond, Texas; four grandchildren, Mark, Joshua, and Jacob Smallwood, and Hunter Johnson; eight great-grandchildren, Calieb, Kathaleen (Katie), Kaileigh, Clinton Dean, Abigail, and Wyatt Smallwood, Camerin and Caidence Carter; brother, Kenneth (Victoria) Storer of Eagle, Idaho, and sister, Pat (Paul) Gray of Katy, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; maternal grandparents, Omar and Liza Sayre; and paternal grandparents, Florence and Albert Storer.

There will be a funeral service held in remembrance of Joan at 11:00 AM on Friday, December 31, 2021, at First United Methodist Church in Olney, with a visitation for friends and family one hour prior to the service at 10:00 AM at the church. Interment will follow the service at Bethel Cemetery, West Liberty, Illinois. Memorials may be made to The First United Methodist Church of Olney, Illinois, or the Good Samaritan of Olney, Illinois.