Joseph Wayne Smith

Joseph Wayne Smith, 67, of Deerfield Beach, Florida, formerly of Danville, passed away on September 11, 2008 at the Holycross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Wayne had been ill just a few months with pancreatic cancer. He was born on July 2, 1941, in Quincy, Ill, the son of Jesse Joe and Lillie Pauline Smith. Wayne had been married to Susan Wautlet, and from this union they had two daughters, Jonette (David) Mills of Pace, Florida, and Mikelann (Joe) Traister of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Also surviving is Donna Vernon, his longtime companion, his granddaughter, Chelsea Mills of Florida, a brother, David L. Smith Bentley (Lucricia) of Florida, two sisters, Donna Seelund and Nancy Humphreys, both of Danville, two aunts, Norma Smith, Ruby Pracht, and an uncle, Harold Smith, all of Quincy, Il., as well as nieces and a nephew. His parents, Joe and Lilly, grandparents Jesse O. and Florence Tunis Smith, Iva Woods Miller, Elmer Miller, uncles, Edward L. Smith and Robert Miller, and his aunt Vivian Smith precede Wayne in death. He attended Oaklawn Grade School and graduated from Danville High School in 1961. That same year, he was the first Danville High School Viking. While in high school, he was a great football player and wrestler. Wayne worked at I&I Amusement Park as a lifeguard after graduating and saved a life of a Georgetown boy with his lifeguard experience. Wayne also worked at Chuckles Candy Factory in Danville. During his journey of life, he has traveled many places including California, Mexico, Solomon Islands, Guam, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. He was always an adventurous person who enjoyed scuba diving, and diving for tropical fish. He never met a stranger, and will be sadly missed by family and friends.