Grace C. Liu

Grace C. Liu, 64, of Bloomington passed away at 3:50 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012 at her residence.

Her funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday at the Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington. Rev. Ken Graham will officiate. Burial will be at East Lawn Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington. Memorials may be made to the Grace C. Liu Memorial Fund.

Grace was born July 12, 1948 in China, the daughter of Chi-Hsiang Chao and Hsi-Che Chao. She married Daniel Liu on March 18, 1972 in Normal. He survives, along with their children Joseph (Julie) Liu, Bloomington and Patty Liu of Chicago,3 grandchildren, Elizabeth, Catherine and David Liu, Bloomington, 1 sister Kathy (Alex) So, Bedford, Texas, 1 brother Paul (Amy) Chao, Taipei, Taiwan.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

Grace was born in China and grew up in Taiwan. Grace had worked for State Farm Insurance Company for more than 30 years retiring in 2005. She was a former member of West Olive United Methodist Church and member of Holy Light Chinese Ministry, Vale Church, Bloomington.

Grace enjoyed cooking. She was known to serve others through her ministry.

Please view the obituary and share your condolences and memories online at www.calvertmemorial.com.

- -

Helen M. Robeson

Helen M. Robeson, 93, of Heyworth died at 7:40 a.m., Sunday. Nov. 25, 2012 at Heartland Health Care in Normal.

Her funeral will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday at the Heyworth Christian Church, with Rev. Kurt Flora officiating. Burial will follow in the Heyworth Cemetery, Heyworth. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Heyworth Christian Church, the Randolph Township Library, Heyworth, Randolph Township Fire Dept. or the Heyworth Ambulance Service. Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Robeson was born Dec. 19, 1918 at Heyworth, the daughter of Owen Woodson and Winifred L. Gaines Newby. She married Adrian Robeson on Sept. 19, 1948 at Heyworth. He died Oct. 21, 1981.

Survivors include her nephews, Donald Newby and Thomas (Vicki) Newby both of Heyworth, Edward (Susie) Newby, Bloomington, and David Newby, Sycamore, Ill. and nieces Lois (Sam) Bradstreet Bloomington, Darlene (Larry) Johnson, Champaign, Ill. and Mary (Charlie) Heap, Downs, Ill.

Her brothers, Clyde Newby, Owen K. Newby, Robert A. Newby Wayne W. Newby and a nephew Kenneth Newby, preceded her in death.

She was a long time active member of the Heyworth Christian Church. Mrs. Robeson was a graduate of Heyworth High School and worked for the Prudential Insurance Company of America for over 26 years retiring on Jan. 8, 1981.

- -

Marjorie Elizabeth "Marge" Smith

Marjorie Elizabeth “Marge” Smith, 93, of Normal died Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 at McLean County Nursing Home.

Marge lived her whole life in the Bloomington/Normal area. Her funeral will be 10 a.m., Tuesday at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington with Rev. Dr. James Warren officiating. Burial will follow at East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington. Visitation will be 3-7 p.m., Monday at the memorial home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may made to McLean County Crime Stoppers, through Pay Pal at www.mccrimestoppers.com or mailed to P.O. Box 73, Bloomington, IL 61702 or the McLean County Nursing Home, 901 N. Main St., Normal, IL 61761 Attn: Activities Fund.

Mrs. Smith was born March 22, 1919 in Bloomington, the daughter of Alexander Day and Margaret Rose Dunaway Calvert. She married Richard McNair Smith on Sept. 6, 1946. He died June 8, 1977.

Surviving are a daughter, Davora Alexis (Greg) Bieberly, Garland, Texas, two sons, Calvert Richard Smith, Plano, Texas and Brady McNair Smith, Sleepy Hollow, Ill., five grandchildren, Kristen Steven and Trent Bieberly and Samantha and Calli Smith, a step granddaughter, Brandi Cochran, three step great-grandchildren, Jordan Walker and Abbi Castillo, Chloe Cochran numerous nieces and nephews, including a special niece Leslie (Jim) Frizzell, Bloomington.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Joseph Wallace Calvert.

Her family was always her priority but she joked her best friends wereFanny May and Sara Lee. After the death of her husband in 1977, and a long career at Eureka Williams and Illinois State University, Marge devoted her life to law enforcement.

She worked as a volunteer Sheriff, was a licensed private detective with The Investigators, Inc., volunteered in numerous crime prevention associations, served on the Board and was treasurer of McLean County Crime Stoppers, and was appointed Crime Prevention “Citizen of the Year” for the state of Illinois in 1994 by the Governor.

Marge served on the McLean County Sheriff’s Gang Intelligence Unit, member and treasurer of the Normal Police Department Pension Fund, served on the Illinois Crime Prevention Assoc. was active with the Black History Project, National Association of Legal Secretaries, the McLean County Historical Society, the McLean County Museum of History, the McLean County Crime Prevention Committee, National Crime Prevention Council, Legal Secretaries of McLean County, McLean County Chamber of Commerce, Woman’s Division, the Normal Avenue Neighborhood Club, I.S.U. Annuitants Assoc., was a McLean County Reserve Officer, and a member of the Illinois Sheriff’s Assoc.

She was licensed to carry a handgun for the Sheriff’s Department and qualified each year on a combat shooting range and was a member of the National Rifle Assoc., Millennium Honor Roll.

In her spare time, she loved tearooms and antiquing.

The family sincerely thanks the McLean County Nursing Home staff for their loving care and all the kindness, which was shown to Marge.

- -