2009 POST ON THE DEATH OF JEAN RANKIN SMITH by Carol Jean Smith

DEATH NOTICE I am sad to relate that on September 8 I received a letter informing me that my Aunt Jean Smith, the wife of Robert Neil Smith, my deceased uncle, passed away peacefully on September 2nd, 2009, at her apartment in Glacier Hills, Ann Arbor, Michigan. She was my godmother and namesake, Jean being my middle name. The letter told me a little about her past year, and reminded me she would have been 97 on Sept. 16th: Quote:" As usual, she had an eventful year, living life to it's fullest, and embracing changes along the way. It included a trip to Boston the end of June where we boarded a ship and cruised to Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Prince Edward Island, Quebec City and Montreal." Also, :"Another highlight was visiting the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec city where Jean and Neil spent their honeymoon in 1946." "A few weeks ago, Jean announced that she had decided not to be 97 years old, because, 'that was too old'. So we celebrated her 96 and 11/12th birthday on August 16th with cake, balloons and a few friends. she then put the rest of her affairs in order and went quietly to sleep." I won't be able to attend her memorial service on September 12th in Bad Axe, Michigan, and will be sad to have missed it. Jean and Neil had no children of their own in their lifetime, but because of their involvement in so many public community endeavors, and the establishment of the Jean M.R. Smith Foundation to afford local high schoolers 4 year college scholarships, I think my Aunt Jean and Uncle Neil parented many wonderful children in their lifetime. Together, they were sparkling examples for me to continue my education and enjoy life. Jean was legally blind her last years of life, yet she grasp life and gave it to all around her. I still see the lovely large peony bushes in her backyard garden and the cat she had. I still have the story they wrote when I was young, "Lanky, the stork". "Sing with the angels, and Aunt Lorena, my father and mother, Aunt Jean. You deserve a crown with many jewels. I loved you." Carol Jean