Rebecca ” Becky ” Smith Hart died Sunday March 23, 2025 at Courtyard Estates memory unit of Monmouth at 2:00 pm where she had been a resident for the past two years. Prior to that she lived with her husband at Tartan Bluff Farm in rural Oquawka, Illinois. She was born September 22, 1947 at Galesburg, Illinois, the daughter of John Rolf and Kathryn Meldrum Smith. She attended Galesburg grade schools and graduated from Galesburg High School with the class of 1965. She then attended Western Illinois University, graduating in 1969 with a degree in Education. She first taught at Warren Achievement School, living in Monmouth, and left there to spend a few years working in the office for Munson Trucking in Little York, IL. While working for Munson, she moved to Oquawka, where she met her future husband at a Christmas carol sing at Melburg’s tavern in Oquawka, Illinois. On January 5, 1977 she married Augustin S. Hart III at what became their first rural Oquawka home. She returned to teaching and taught, mostly first grade, for the Union School District, starting at the Oquawka grade school. After twenty years she retired and went to work or Monmouth College as a student teacher supervisor.
Retiring from the college, she remained active in several social organizations to include P E O, the Red Hatters, and retired teachers groups. While also being an active gardener, golfer, reader, and seamstress. During her marriage she visited every continent, to include Antarctica, and several Atlantic and Pacific Islands. She also enjoyed horseback riding at her husband’s family ranch in Wyoming and spending time in the warmer climates of the Bahamas or Arizona during the winter months.
Becky is survived by her husband, Gus of rural Oquawka, Illinois and her brother J. Sidney Smith and Jane of rural Knoxville, IL; in laws Heather and Walter Goldstein of Bozeman, Montana, Kathryn and Robert Lansing of Lake Forest, Illinois and Harriet Corbett of rural Powell, Wyoming. Numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews , cousins and her great friend Lou Pruett of Oquawka, IL
She is preceded in her death by her parents, parents in laws, several aunts and uncles, her great friend, Nancy Fullerton Reed and two brothers in law Robert and Douglas Hart.
Great thanks are due to Melissa Stanton who has been her almost daily caretaker for the past four years, the staff at Courtyard Estates, especially those in the memory unit, and the Compassus Hospice Crew.
At present Turnbull Funeral Home in Oquawka is in charge of Becky’s care and cremation is planned by her family. Service and celebrations are planned at a later date by her family. Memorial funds are being planned for either West Central Education Foundation or the Oquawka Toy Drive and may be sent to her husband at 1609 Hart Road in Oquawka, Illinois 61469. To leave a remembrance or for more information please visit wwwturnbullfuneralhomes.com
