Glen E. Smitley, age 93, of Paris, Illinois passed away Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana. He was well-known in Paris as the owner/manager of the Checker Oil station, before he retired from the station and worked part time for Beeman's while pursuing his woodworking hobby.

Visitation is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home, in Paris, Illinois. The funeral service will immediately follow, with Pastor Daniel Smith of Grace Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will follow at Edgar Cemetery.

Glen was born December 13, 1929, in Clark County, Illinois to Cleo and Dorothy (Sheets) Smitley. While attending school in a one-room schoolhouse, he met Zella Newhart and began wooing her by dipping her braids in the inkwell and giving her a Valentine that has long been a treasured family heirloom. After graduating from Redmon High School, he married Zella on his 18th birthday in 1947. They were together for more than sixty years, married from 1947 to her death in 2006, and she remained in his heart thereafter.

Following marriage, Glen worked at the Equity Union Creamery in Paris where he and Zella started their family with the births of two daughters—Cheryl and Marcia. He relocated his young family to Pana, IL when the creamery merged with Prairie Farms Dairy. In 1963, he left his position as plant superintendent at Prairie Farms, and returned to Paris to join his father in running the family's full-service gas station.

Following his father's retirement, Glen took over the management of the Checker station for many years, until eventually retiring from Marathon Oil Company when gas stations became convenience stores. From his many years at the station, he knew everyone in town, and he often called out, "Hey, Daddy Rabbit," (or some other random name), whether he remembered a person's real name or not.

He will be fondly remembered for what a stellar grandparent he was. He was known for taking the kids fishing, making homemade ice cream, and telling his endless "stories" until he got so tickled he would have to stop and wipe tears from his eyes. He spent his retirement woodworking and building toy boxes, picture frames, and model display cases for the grandkids. His many family members will miss him, and his 7 great great grandchildren will grow up hearing some of his favorite stories from those who were privileged to have known him.

He is survived by:

His children: Cheryl Freas and her husband Tom of LaPorte, Indiana; Marcia Setzer Calabria and her husband Don of Plainfield, Indiana.

His grandchildren: Todd Manolovits of Auburn, Indiana; Jennifer Condon and her husband Kevin of St. Peters, Missouri; Troy Manolovits and his wife Amy of Guthrie, Oklahoma.

His great grandchildren and their families: Casey (mother of Aiden and Rohan) and Rebecca (mother of Isabella, Bobby, and Colton); Elisabeth and Kathleen; Austin (and his wife Hallie and son Gunner); Meghan (and her husband Ethan and daughter Maylee); and Kaitlin (and her husband Andrew).

And other loved ones: Additionally, he is survived by his sister, Barbara Ross of Chrisman, Illinois; brothers-in-law Larry Newhart of Paris, Illinois and Roger Newhart of Terre Haute, Indiana; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins from both the extended Smitley and Newhart families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Zella, his siblings Evelyn Rund and Edgar Smitley, and his son-in-law John Setzer.

Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church or the Donor's Choice.

For more information and online condolences please go to www.stewartandcarrollfuneralhome.com