Delorse Cecelia Drone, of Tallula, died at 9:10 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019 at Memorial Medical Center. She was born on Dec. 31, 1938, in Shawneetown to Walter Bryan and Veronica Amelia (Deitz) Smith. She married Dennis Wilfred Drone on Dec. 27, 1958 and he survives.
Also surviving are six children, Catherine Schuyler of Fancy Prairie, Denise (Steve) Peters of Farmington, Steve (Karen) Drone of Jamestown, Tennessee, Kelly Drone of Springfield, Michael Drone of Cantrall, and Leigh Anne Cheek of Jacksonville; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Willett of Smithton and Virginia Quinn of Sturgis, Kentucky; two brothers, George (Thelma) Smith of Arizona and Harold Smith of Shawneetown; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Delorse is preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Walter, Andrew and William Smith.
Delorse belonged to St. Peters Church in Petersburg. She was a homemaker and previously had worked for the Department of Transportation, Department of Corrections, and retired from the State of Illinois. She loved to travel; some of her favorite places to visit were Ireland, Europe, Australia, and especially Hawaii. She also enjoyed gardening and being outdoors. She will be remembered most for being a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.
Memorial gathering is 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019 at Staub Funeral Home in Springfield.
A memorial service will be noon Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be held at Camp Butler National Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society or Alzheimer's Association.
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