Sheila Smitley

Sheila M. Smitley, 64, of Dover went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 while in the care of Community Hospice’s Truman House following a nearly three-year battle with cancer.

A daughter of Gwendolyn Straight Eichel and the late Carl “Bud” Eichel, Sheila was born at Cheyenne, Wyoming on November 19, 1952.

A 1971 graduate of Dover High School, Sheila married the love of her life, Larry David Smitley on August 6, 1977. Together, the couple raised three children, Jessica, Alicia, and Larry and shared in nearly 36 years of marriage prior to his passing on July 23, 2013.

For many years, Sheila was a familiar face at The Pump House Gym at Dover. While employed there, she gained a great deal of interest in power lifting and earned numerous trophies for her lifting abilities and became a respected consultant on weight training. She later worked for the J.E. Reeves Museum and the Historical Society as a tour guide, decorator and event staff for many of their fundraising events.

Sheila had a deep faith in the Lord and showed her faith in many ways through the years. Whether it was sending a card, a note, or a text to someone who needed encouragement, Sheila was sure to brighten the day of others. Always one to lend a hand, Sheila could be found helping at many functions of not only her home church, Dover First Christian Church but at Faith Christian Church as well.

Sheila also enjoyed sharing her faith with others through mission trips and enjoyed being in the field supporting ministers and missionaries as they studied God’s Word and prepared to share His teachings. Her most memorable trip took place a Haus Edelweiss in Austria where she was enlightened to the true persecution of other Christians across the globe. Annually, she also enjoyed taking time to prepare many shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, her belief that no one should ever go without.

Next to God came her family. She loved being a grandmother and attending family gatherings. Sheila was a lifetime selfless caregiver; not only to her own family but to anyone who needed assistance. She loved the holidays and enjoyed decorating and dressing for every occasion. She also felt birthday celebrations were very important and never let any member of her family feel as if their day wasn’t special; always providing a homemade meal and specially baked cake.

In addition to her mother, Sheila will be missed by her family which she cared for so deeply; daughters, Jessica (Kenny) Howell of Cadiz and Alicia “Lolli” (Jerry) Thompson; a son, Larry D. Smitley all of Dover, and three grandchildren, Sabrina (Nate) Archer and Wesley, and Wyatt Thompson.

Completing the family are her siblings, Ginnie (Mark) Porter, Colin (Kathy) Eichel, and Judie (Matt) Fox all of Dover, Shannon (Real) van Breda of Grandview, TN, and Susan Eichel of Cincinnati; her mother-in-law, Harriet “Momma” Smitley-Kuhn of Dover; two sisters-in-law, Deb Smitley of New Philadelphia and Wendy (Bill) Collinsworth of Elida, Ohio as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her father and husband, Sheila was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Jesse Smitley.

In keeping with Sheila’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial visitation will be held on Sunday, July 23, 2017 from 2-5 PM in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover where Pastor Brian Flood will lead a celebration of her life on Monday at 11 AM. A meal and fellowship will follow the service in the Hospitality Room of the Dover Geib Center.

Memorial contributions in Sheila’s name may be directed to Dover First Christian Church 3029 North Wooster Avenue, Dover, OH 44622, Faith Christian Church, 2012 Pleasant Valley Rd NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663, Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 716 Commercial Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663 or to TCM International Institute P.O. Box 24560, Indianapolis, IN 46224.