Earl Highsmith

Earl Dean Highsmith, 82, of Bolivar, Missouri, passed away Monday, July 13, 2026, at Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility in Bolivar, Missouri.

He was born to Kenneth and Edith (Gish) Highsmith on July 6, 1944, in Waukegan, Illinois, while his father was stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes. He married Norma Jean (Meyer) Highsmith on June 11, 1967, at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Central City, Illinois, and to this union, three children were born.

He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois. He taught math in the Southwestern Community Unit School District #9 in Piasa, Illinois, and Jersey Community Unit District #100 in Jerseyville, Illinois.

He was a member of the Shipman Masonic Lodge #212 AF & AM and Plainview #665 Order of the Eastern Star. Throughout the years, he played piano for numerous Eastern Star chapters, including Alton, Bethalto, Bunker Hill and his own chapter in Plainview, all in Illinois.

He was a talented pianist and organist, having been taught piano as a child by his aunt, Evelyn Highsmith. During his lifetime, he played piano and organ at several area churches for services, weddings and funerals. He played the organ for more than 15 years for church services at Calvary Baptist Church in Alton, Illinois, where he was a member.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his sister and brother-in-law Donna (Highsmith) and Carl Miller, and a nephew, Joshua Miller.

He is survived by his three children: Clark Highsmith and wife, Susan, of Denton, Texas; Kent Highsmith and wife, Jennelle, of Bethalto, Illinois, and Charlotte Marsch and husband, David, of Bolivar, Missouri; five grandchildren and their spouses: Benjamin Highsmith and wife, Abigail, of Paragould, Arkansas; Joslyn and Gabriel Highsmith of Bethalto, Illinois; and Rachel McCullah and husband, Cael, and Gloria Marsch, all of Bolivar, Missouri; and a nephew, Andrew Miller and wife, Lauren, of Highland, Illinois.

Visitation is from 4:00 pm to 7:00pm, Thursday, July 16, 2026 at Gent Funeral Home, Alton, Illinois. Funeral service is at 10:00 am, Friday, July 17, 2026 at Calvary Baptist Church, Alton, Illinois. Burial will be in Zion Hill Cemetery in Central City, Illinois, next to his wife, Norma.

Memorials may be given to the Earl and Norma Highsmith Education Scholarship through the Southwestern School Foundation for Educational Excellence, P.O. Box 1, Piasa, Illinois 62079.