Howard Lyndell "Goat" Smith

Howard Lyndell “Goat” Smith, 89, of Carrollton, IL, passed away peacefully on Friday evening, July 5, 2024, at his home surrounded by loved ones.

Lyndell was born on August 31, 1934, in rural Carrollton, the son of Howard Burns and Beryl (Griffin) Smith.

He married Sally Whitaker on November 19, 1953, at the Eldred Baptist Church.  He and Sally were married 70 years and celebrated the arrivals of five children, Lynn (Bill) Stendeback, Mary Ann (Gary) Portwood, Sarah (Dan) Schmidt, Luke (Ronda) Smith and Robin (Nick) Manns; 13 grandchildren, Courtney (Kevin) Johnson, Hillary (David) Hoffman, Mallory Stendeback, Marc Stendeback, Kelli (Zach) Hughes, Kayla (Kevin) Tobias, Ben (Sarah) Schmidt, Zachary (Brittney) Schmidt, Matthew (Dana) Schmidt, Jacob (Jessica) Smith, Jerrett (Chantelle) Smith, Ailee Manns and Joshua (Devyn) Manns; and 21 great grandchildren.

He was a 1952 Carrollton High School graduate, where he excelled in several sports, and was quite proud to boast to his grandsons! He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict.  He was a barber and co-owned Brooks and Smith barbershop for many years.  He also worked and retired from the Carrollton City Water Plant. 

Through the years he enjoyed playing slow pitch softball, especially on the "Dummies" team.  He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish. He passed his passion and skills onto his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren play sports. He was a die-hard CUBS fan. He belonged to the Carrollton United Methodist Church.  He was a proud member of the Eldred American Legion Post 1135 and served faithfully in the Tri-County Honor Guard.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty and Orville Painter, Martha and Eugene “Pearly” Graves, brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Vivian Smith; mother and father-in-law, Otis and Aileen Whitaker, and brother-in-law, William Whitaker.  He is survived by sister-in-law, Louise Whitaker and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at the Carrollton United Methodist Church at 11a.m on Friday, July 12, 2024, with burial and military rites at Eldred Memorial Gardens.  Visitation will be from
9 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be given to the Tri-County Honor Guard, BJC Hospice, or the Carrollton United Methodist Church and will be collected by the funeral home.  Shields-Bishop Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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