Gertie Mae (Unthank) Smith

Gertie Smith was born July 10, 1943 in Alton, IL. She entered her eternal heavenly reward on February 22, 2026 at Alton Memorial Hospital with family beside her.

Known affectionately “Mama Gertie,” she will be missed and was loved by all who knew her.

She worked as a bookkeeper in her professional life, retiring from Madison County Equal Opportunity Commission as Head Bookkeeper. She became one of the region’s top Avon sales representatives for many years. If Avon was calling in Alton, it was Mama Gertie. She also served as President and CEO of the Riverbend Food Pantry for many years, responsible for distributing tends of thousands of meals to area residents. This is where “Mama Gertie” was coined. She was a longtime member of Faith Fellowship Church in Godfrey.

She married Jerry Carl Smith on October 10, 1983. He preceded her in death Easter Sunday 2012.

She was also preceded in death by her father George Henry Unthank, mother Ola Myrtle Unthank (Lasseter), a brother Henry Leroy Unthank, and her lifetime best friend Myrna Wingate.

Surviving are two sons: Carter Hill of Dallas, Texas and Christopher Unthank of Wood River, Illinois; grandson Asher Hill of Dallas; step-sons Todd Smith of Alton, Tim Smith of Alton, Jeremy Smith of Hillsboro, Missouri, and Sarah (Smith) Harris from Festus, Missouri.

In accordance with her wishes, her body was donated to St. Louis University School of Medicine.

A Celebration of Life service will be planned in the coming months.

Memorials can be made to the family in care of Marks Mortuary in Wood River.

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