N. Maurine Kimmel

    N. Maurine Smith Kimmel passed away on October 27th, 2026, at 99 years of age. A native of Cobden, Illinois, she spent her final years living at home with her granddaughter in New York, where she passed away peacefully.

    She was the youngest of eight siblings, born to Nancy Etta Brown and Calvin Lee Smith. Maurine attended Cobden High School, where she pitched for the girls' softball team. Her attention to detail was essential to her work as a fancy stitcher for Florsheim Shoes. Maurine adored working with children as a Sunday school teacher at Galilee Baptist Church in Wolf Lake, IL, where she was a longtime, faithful member. She was an active volunteer with the Women’s Missionary Union, Girls in Action, and several other committees. Community and faith were very important to her.

    Music and dancing were threads of brightness throughout Maurine’s life. In her younger years, she enjoyed listening to live music, especially her brother’s band, which led her to meet the love of her life, Charles “Bud” F. Kimmel. The two married shortly after in 1951 and together raised two talented daughters. Maurine loved gospel quartet music and old country tunes. She continued to see live music at church shows and concert venues with her grandchildren well into her 80’s. She was lively and playful, teaching friends to Charleston despite walking with a cane late in life. Even after dementia set in and her memories grew muddled, Maurine sang songs often enough that her great-granddaughter learned them. She always had the radio on and let the sunshine in.

    She was a caregiver at heart, putting her family before herself. Maurine was known for her large family meals, often made of food grown by her and Charlie in their robust garden at their Wolf Lake home. A cup of coffee and a piece of chocolate hate to see her coming. Her lemon meringue pie and chicken & dumplings are unmatched. Maurine’s matriarchal mettle made her a pillar of strength that many family members relied upon over the years. If anyone could get it done, Maurine could, whatever “it” was.

    She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles F., her daughter, Nancy J. Johnson, and her four siblings, Ruby Patterson, Eldon Smith, William “Bill” Smith, Kathleen Jackson, Roy Smith, and two infant siblings who died at birth.

    Maurine is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Ken Palmer of Stafford, Texas; Granddaughter and partner, Elissa Johnson and Matthew Grove of Utica, New York; Grandson and partner, Kyle Johnson and Lakyn Winner of Carterville, Illinois; Grandson Jonathan Palmer of San Antonio, Texas; Granddaughter and husband, Lindsey and Mike Skinner of Stafford, Texas; Great-grandchildren Nora Skinner, Violet Johnson Grove, and Asa Johnson Grove; stepgreat-grandchildren Noah Tabor, Miriam Grove, and Ian Grove; and beloved nephew and wife, Michael “Mickey” and Sharon Jackson of Troy, Illinois. She was loved by many furry friends who will miss her tender scratches and tireless ball tosses.

    A graveside service will take place at 11:00 am, November 20th, at the Anna Cemetery, Anna Illinois. Friends are encouraged to join the family for a celebration of Maurine’s life following the service at 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm at Starview Vineyard, 5100 Wing Hill Rd, Cobden, IL 62920. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Maurine’s honor to the Cure Alzheimers fund www.curealz.org/giving/donate, or the Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's Association