Ethan Andrew Smith

CHENOA -- Ethan Andrew Smith, 8, of Chenoa died Thursday (July 31, 2008) at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal.

His funeral will be at noon Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Chenoa, with Father Carl LoPresti presiding. Visitation will be 10 a.m. Tuesday until the time of the service at the church, with burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery rural Chenoa. Duffy Funeral Home in Pontiac has charge of arrangements. The family has set up the Ethan Andrew Smith Memorial Fund at the Bank of Pontiac.

Ethan was born Aug. 10, 1999, in Colorado Springs, Colo, a son of Aaron Slager and Theresa M. Potter Smith, both from Chenoa.

Survivors include both his parents; brothers, Jonathan, Alex and Mason Smith, all of Chenoa; sisters, Morgan and Madison Slager, all from Chenoa; maternal grandparents, James A. (Denise) Potter, Pontiac; and Rebecca D. (Michael) Vrane, Wellington, Colo.; maternal great-grandparents, Eugenia and Raymond Shutts, Bartonville; and maternal great-grandparent, Julianne Lewis Andell, Hanna City. Ethan also had a pet gecko named Ian.

He was preceded in death by both maternal great-grandfathers, Donald E. Andell and James E. Potter; paternal grandmother, Gayle H. Slager; and paternal great-grandparents, Max and Evelyn M. Myers.

He was attending Chenoa Elementary School in Chenoa.

Ethan was a wonderful artist; he was active in Scouting and loved doing anything outdoors like climbing trees, any sporting events, especially fishing. One of his favorite things to do was eating sushi with chopsticks. And his wonderful backrubs will be missed. Ethan enjoyed reading books to his younger brother and sister, and was very excited with the arrival of his new baby sister.

Ethan loved dinosaurs and wanted to be an archaeologist when he grew up.