Elsie Smith

Glen Carbon:

Elsie Smith, 92, passed away at 9:43pm on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Anderson Hospital. She was born on December 27, 1932, in Thayer, Illinois, the daughter of Bert and Alice (Foster) Watkins. She lived in Thayer until she was eight years old. Her family then moved to Bethalto. She attended grade school and three years of high school in Bethalto. At that time, Bethalto only had three years of high school. She graduated her senior year from East Alton Wood River High School. In 1954, she married Dean Denby at the Bethalto United Methodist Church. They were married for twenty years when Dean passed away. They were blessed with two children, Debra and Dennis. She later married Derrell Smith and they were married thirty – two years. She is survived by her daughter: Debra Zimmerman of Wood River, a son and daughter in law: Dennis and Janice Denby of Edwardsville, five grandchildren, three great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and other extended family and friends. Her greatest happiness was being a mom, a grandma, and great grandma.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her two husbands, she was preceded in death by her sisters: Lydia Rink, Margaret Blacklock, Sarah Innis, her two brothers: Jack Watkins and Bert Watkins.

Private graveside services were held at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.