Jerry S. Smalling's Obituary
Decatur-Jerry S. Smalling, 74, of Decatur, passed away at 10:10 a.m. Friday, April 22, 2011 at St. Mary's Hospital.
Jerry was born November 12, 1936 in Tompkinsville, Kentucky the son of Meredith E. and Bevie Ann (Sadler) Smalling. Jerry graduated from Tompkinsville High School in Tompkinsville, KY with the class of 1955. He received his Bachelors of Science degree and he received his Masters of Arts from Western Kentucky University. Jerry started his coaching career creating the football program at Gamaliel High School in Gamaliel, KY before accepting the head coaching position at Illiopolis High School in 1964 and retired from there in 1991. Smalling's Illiopolis teams went a combined record of 138- 105-6 over 28 seasons, making playoff appearances in 1974 and 1982. He later assisted on a volunteer basis with the South Piatt co-op football program involving Bement and Atwood-Hammond. Coach Smalling was inducted into the Illinois High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 1989. He married Patricia Masters in Gamaliel, KY on August 12, 1958. Jerry was married to Kathy (Cheatham) Hays in Decatur on October 24, 1981.
Jerry is survived by his first wife Patricia (Masters) Smalling, of Springfield, IL and their daughters Jennifer Smalling and partner Russell Gideon of Blue Mound, IL and Mickie (husband David) Rasch of Chicago, IL; his loving wife Kathy Smalling of Decatur, IL; and her sons James (wife Debby) Hays their son and Jerry's beloved grandson Zach of Mt. Zion, IL, and Mike Hays of Decatur, IL; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters Edith Dunn Bray, Mattie Comer, Mary Napier, and Mildred Bateman, and his brothers Henry Dunn, James Smalling and Winston 'Gene' Smalling.
Memorial services to celebrate Coach Jerry's life will be at 4:00 pm Sunday, May 1, 2011 at the Sangamon Valley Middle School formerly the Illiopolis Community High School with Chuck Ferris officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date in Kentucky. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
The family of Coach Jerry Smalling is being served by Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, 2091 N. Oakland Avenue, Decatur, IL. View online obituary and send condolences to the Smalling family at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
For further information on coach Smalling's career, please follow attached links below.
Decatur Herald and Review-April 23, 2011
http://www.herald-review.com/sports/football/high-school-and-prep/article_d0f5bcea-6d65-11e0-8b99-001cc4c002e0.html
Decatur TV News
http://www.wandtv.com/story/14503046/former-
Springfield Journal Register-April 23, 2011
http://www.sj-r.com/sports/x1274367564/Former-Illiopolis-coach-Smalling-dies
Facebook Group named Remembering Coach
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_192025484176248
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