Kelley Smith's Obituary
Kelley Louise Smith, 41, of Mahomet, IL, passed away on May 30, 2025, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born on May 4, 1984, in Decatur, IL, Kelley was the beloved daughter of William and Patricia (Hurst) Smith. She is survived by her parents; twin sister, Courtney Smith; brother, Nick Smith; sister, Whitney (Anthony) Glosser; sister-in-law, Kim Smith; and her cherished nieces and nephews: Olivia Smith, Ethan Glosser, Charlie Smith, and Mary Glosser. Kelley was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents and her brother, Timothy.
Kelley earned her degree in Exercise Science from Truman State University and went on to receive her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Des Moines University. A board-certified specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy, she began her career at OSF St. James in Pontiac, IL, where she helped develop a pediatric therapy program. Three years ago, she joined Carle Hospital in Urbana, IL, working alongside her twin sister Courtney in the NICU, PICU, and Pediatrics. Known for her unwavering compassion and joy, Kelley dedicated her life to helping children and her impact is far-reaching, touching the lives of countless families who will forever be grateful for her care.
Above all, Kelley’s greatest joy was spending time with family and friends. Her heart was full of kindness and her spirit was a gift to all who knew her. Kelley had a passion for travel, especially beach vacations. She loved cheering on her nieces and nephews at their recitals and games, and found happiness in live music, family dinners, and laughter shared with loved ones. Her friendships ran deep—many of them lifelong—and she surrounded herself with a remarkable circle she loved like family.
Kelley leaves behind a legacy of love, service, and joy. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, coworkers, and the many children whose lives she touched. Though her time with us was far too short, her impact will be felt for a lifetime.
A celebration of Kelley’s life will take place at First Christian Church, 3350 N. MacArthur Road, Decatur, IL. Visitation will be held on Monday, June 9, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the funeral service following on Tuesday, June 10, at 11:00 a.m. The burial will be at Graceland Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org/donate) or the Carle Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (www.carle.org/give).
The family would like to extend special thanks to several outstanding care providers at Carle: Dr. Sahai, the infusion nurses at Mills Cancer Center, the 6th floor oncology nurses, and Desiree, Kelley’s hospice nurse. Bless them for their compassion and moments of laughter.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family in care of Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Homes https://www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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