Lila M Crotty Smith

Lila M. Crotty Smith, 91, of East Moline, died Sunday, February 12, 2017, at Rosewood Care Center, Moline, IL.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 16, 2017, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., 6601 – 38th Avenue, Moline. Visitation will be from noon to service time at the funeral home.  Burial will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens.  Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Dementia Society of America.

Lila was born on June 21, 1925, the daughter of Elmer and Verna Concannon Burkholder. After her father’s death, her mother married Steve Colaff, and together they raised Lila.

Lila married Gilbert Crotty in 1948 in Peoria, IL.  He preceded her in death in 1969.  She later met Jack H. Smith at the Col Ball Room in Davenport, IA and married him on May 26, 1979.  He preceded her in death on November 30, 2012.

She was an only child, growing up and living in Peoria until after she was married and had 4 children of her own.  She then moved to Moline and then to East Moline in 1962, where she lived until moving to the Lighthouse in 2009.  She was a homemaker until 1968 when she started selling Sarah Coventry jewelry on the home party plan.  She was successful at that and became the District Manager in the QC area.  She then worked as a Sales Associate at Petersons, now Von Mar.

Lila was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in East Moline, where she volunteered to help and answered the phone one day a week.  She was active in Kings Daughters in Moline, IL.  She enjoyed playing Bridge and belonged to several groups.  She and Jack also enjoyed taking walks by the river and/or at the mall.  She always enjoyed having lunch or shopping with her daughter, Cindy, on Fridays for many years.

Lila and Jack loved to go to Florida in January for a month or so to get away from the cold and visit some family and friends along the way.  She also enjoyed knitting and crocheting, making many gifts for family and friends.

Lila will always be remembered as a kind, caring, friendly, and sweet person – a natural at socializing.  She was a great cook and a wonderful mom.

Survivors include:

Children                      Mike (Cindy) Crotty               Moline

David (Mary) Crotty              Atkinson

Cindy (Randy) Bush               East Moline

Step-children               Alan Smith                              Silvis

Kathy Wilson                          East Moline

Jack A. (Heather) Smith         Moline

Several Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; and son, Gary Crotty.

Memories may be shared online at esterdahl.com