Estella “Irene” Boggs Smith Harper, 81, the fierce, feisty, funny, loyal, and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, received her heavenly wings on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at Springfield Memorial Hospital in her hometown of Springfield.
She was born to Corwin Sylvester Boggs, Sr., and Stella E. Shandor Boggs on May 7, 1941. She started her life in a one-bedroom shack with an outhouse before moving to the “big” house as a child with her mother and siblings. Irene never strayed far from the big house, as she moved into the house next door. She was one of eight close-knit siblings. For a short time, she was married to Billy Ray Smith and together they had four children, Debbie, Mike, Robbie, and Mark. Irene later married George Harper on June 29, 1975, and had two daughters, Georgi, and Jenny.
In her younger years, she attended St. Patrick’s Catholic School and worked as a dental assistant as well as a waitress at Steak ‘n Shake. Irene made the best hamburger pie and goulash, loved day-time television, game shows, bingo, and old classic country music. She was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, volunteering for many years. Irene later stayed home and was a mother figure to neighborhood kids and took care of her grandchildren. Whenever life crumbled, Irene was the safety net that held the pieces together for her family. She had a tough exterior with a gentle heart and lived a simple life without a lot of worldly possessions. Irene lived by the saying, “It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it’s what you leave behind you when you go.”
Irene will be deeply missed. It’s not goodbye, it’s “I love you; I’ll talk at you later.”
She is now reunited in heaven with her husband, George Harper; parents; son, Robert “Robbie” Smith; brothers, Corwin “Corkie”, David, and Chester “Chet” Boggs; an infant sister, Dorothy Boggs; and sisters, Margaret “Maggie” Boggs, and Beraldine “Bernie” Errett.
She leaves behind two sisters, Grace McGlothlin of Rochester, and Rose “Rosie” (George) Smith of Springfield; daughters, Debra (Ray) Hamilton-Marten of Raymond, Georgiann “Georgi” (Jim) Johnson, and Jennifer “Jenny” Harper, both of Springfield; sons, Michael “Mike” (Dawna) Smith of Arkansas, and Mark (Sandy) Smith of Springfield; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth “Beth” Smith Aumiller of Springfield; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Graveside Ceremony: 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at Camp Butler National Cemetery, 5063 Camp Butler Rd., Springfield, IL.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate funeral expense donations made payable to the Irene Harper Memorial Fund, c/o Debra Marten, P.O. Box 50, Raymond, IL 62560.
The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield.
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