Ian Martin McLeod-Smith

Ian Martin Smith, age 89, of Westchester, Illinois, went home to be with the Lord, dying peacefully in his home on Sunday, September 7, 2025. With his wife and children surrounding him with hugs and kisses, Ian entered glory directly from their loving arms into the loving arms of his beautiful Savior, joyfully reunited with his mother and father, sisters, brothers-in-law, grandson Brian, and countless other loved ones who have gone before. Of Ian it can truly be said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." And we are celebrating with gratitude that "now there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness, which is not for him only, but for all who have loved Jesus."

Ian was born on December 13, 1935, in Sucre, Bolivia, to Allan McLeod-Smith of the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, and Elizabeth Ann Woolocott Smith (née Martin) of Dunedin, New Zealand. Ian's parents were Plymouth Brethren missionaries from Auckland, New Zealand, who spent over 40 years in service preaching and teaching the Bible throughout South America. Together they planted Plymouth Brethren assemblies in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and Santiago, Chile. Ian and his sisters Elizabeth, Ruth, and Glenys, often recounted their many adventures of growing up in South America. Ian developed a love of the Spanish language and spoke with perfect fluency.

After World War II, Ian spent several years living with relatives in Scotland and Auckland, New Zealand before joining the New Zealand Royal Artillery as a young lad of 17 in 1952. Among his proudest memories was serving in an honor guard for a very young Queen Elizabeth during her tour of the British Commonwealth in 1952-53. Though Ian eventually became a proud citizen of the United States, he never lost his lifelong admiration for the queen, his respect for Winston Churchill, and his love for all things British. Ian was a true son of Great Britain.

But Ian's greatest love and joy was for his family. Intending to become a missionary and join his parents in South America, Ian traveled to the United States to attend New Tribes Mission in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, in 1956. It was there that Ian met Shirley Jean Flexer of Peoria, Illinois, who soon was to become the love of his life. As Shirley would describe it, Ian, with his South American tan, his brilliant blue eyes, and his suave British accent, proved just too irresistible. Within weeks they were engaged. Ian and Shirley were married in 1957 and welcomed their first child, Elizabeth, in 1958.

Ian and Shirley settled in the Chicago area and eventually welcomed two more daughters, Kathryn and Christine, and three sons, Allan, Ian, and Bruce. They raised their family in Glendale Heights, and then Wheaton, Illinois, where Ian worked for many years for Lithocolor Press/Good News Publishers (which later became Crossway). In 1975, Ian moved his family to Greenville, North Carolina, to be a co-owner of National Printing Company. Ian loved his time in the South, enjoying the people, the fresh seafood, eastern North Carolina BBQ, and the Saturday night gospel concerts and hymn sings. He kept a fishing pole in the trunk of his car, ready for an opportunity to sneak away to the river or spend the night fishing at an ocean pier.

Following an invitation from his dear friend Sam Brooks in 1985, Ian moved his family back to the Chicago area to become the manager of Hall and Son Printing Company in Oak Park, Illinois. Ian, Shirley, and Allan eventually established McLeod-Smith Graphics in Oak Park, and Kathryn formed Letcetera, Inc, a graphic design firm. These two businesses worked together to provide printing and graphic arts services throughout Chicago and the western suburbs for many years.

Though God had other plans for Ian than to become a missionary, Ian's life was nevertheless marked by his strong faith and his service to the Lord. He taught Sunday school classes and served his local church as a deacon and elder. His most cherished time was when he served as an elder with Pastor Ray Pritchard at Calvary Memorial Church. He served his community through the Lions Club and with Gideons International, distributing Bibles throughout the community.

Though Ian's later years were marked by increasing levels of physical pain and infirmity, he and Shirley were blessed to move in with daughters Kathryn and Chris (a nurse practitioner), who took loving care of him. In spite of the pain, Ian never neglected his morning devotions. And when he could no longer attend church, he joyfully watched his son Dr. Bruce Smith, pastor of Central Congregational Church in Middleboro, Massachusetts, preach every week over the internet.

Ian was a gentle and quiet man who always had a song in his heart and a smile on his lips. He loved a house full of music (a gift from his mother). His children were required to take piano lessons. He was always singing in the car or in the house with Shirley. Though he couldn't read music, he pounded out hymns on the piano until the house shook. In his final days, as communication became increasingly difficult, he still managed to sing out loud the familiar and precious old hymns of the faith. Extremely sentimental, he saved every gift, card, scribble or rock given to him by one of his children and grandchildren.

Ian never complained, and he never wavered in his positive and optimistic outlook on life. Despite undergoing numerous medical procedures in his final years, Ian bore it with immense strength and great kindness to all. We rejoice that his suffering is over, and that he is finally at home with the Lord. And we all look forward to being reunited with him once again.

Ian is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Shirley; his six children, Elizabeth (Wesley) Davenport, Kathryn McBride, Christine Smith, Allan McLeod-Smith, Ian (Laurie) Smith, and Bruce (Faith) Smith; his sister Ruth (Lewis) Hale of Te Aroha, New Zealand; and 17 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Exactly one week before he died, Ian was blessed to meet his newly born great-grandchild Silas Martin McLeod Smith. Ian was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Elizabeth Rackley and Glenys Orr, and his grandson Brian Davenport.

In his final hours, with his family all around, Ian heard his family sing to him one of his favorite hymns, "When We All Get to Heaven": "When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory!" Dad, we can't wait to see you again. What a day of rejoicing that will be!

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:16

A visitation will be held at Western Springs Baptist Church, 4475 Wolf Rd, Western Springs, IL on Saturday, September 13, from 10:00-11:00 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. The service will be livestreamed through this link: wsbc.link/memorial. After the memorial service, a graveside service will be held at Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, Illinois at 3:00 p.m.