Stephanie June Smolak Walker was born on August 13, 1953, to Eula Dorothy June (Shelby) and Paul George Smolak in Carbondale, Illinois. Stephanie grew up in DeSoto and graduated from DeSoto Grade School in 1967 and Carbondale Community High School in 1971. Stephanie married James Walker in 1971 and they lived in Murphysboro, Illinois during their entire married life.
Stephanie was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, James Andrew Walker, her parents, her maternal grandparents Myrtle (Butler-Shelby) Dietz and Robert Wayne Shelby and her paternal grandparents Terezia (Koss) and Michael Smolak, and her brother, Mark Steven Smolak.
Stephanie is survived by her daughter, Sandra Tanya Walker, her son Nicholas Walker and her grandson Flinn Walker, all of Murphysboro, Illinois. She is survived by her brothers Paul Wayne Smolak of Herrin, Illinois and Jon Michael Smolak of Red Bud, Illinois and sister Melanie Paulette Diel of Belleville, Illinois. She is also survived by Aunts Joyce Dailey, Jean Dietz and Jane Cave of DeSoto, Illinois and Aunt Linda Muir of Grapevine Texas and Uncle Leroy Dietz of Carbondale, Illinois and Aunt Hazel (Shelton) Dietz of St. Charles, Missouri. She is survived by many nephews Sean Paul Smolak, Steven Gregory Smolak, Philip Craig Smolak, Jon Michael Smolak, Jr., Robert Daniel Smolak, Anthony Marc Smolak, Alexander Blake Diel and nieces Robin Renae Smolak and Kathryn Smolak. Stephanie is also survived by many cousins and friends.
Stephanie’s love of softball was well known, and she spent many years training her daughter and other students in the area to be softball pitchers. As a child, Stephanie spent many hours with her favorite great grandmother Eula (Powell) Butler in DeSoto.
In lieu of flowers friends and family are requested to support Carbondale Community High School and Murphysboro Township High School Athletic Departments or to donate a book to their local library.
Walker Funeral Home & Crematory of Southern Illinois entrusted with arrangements.
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