Jane Marie Smith

Jane Marie Smith passed away peacefully at 10:10AM, August 22, 2012 in Spokane, Washington at the age of 93 years and 2 months. Her family was at her bedside for her final hours. Her husband, Dr. John W. Smith preceded her in death on March 31, 2000. An informal celebration of her life will take place with family and friends at 3:00PM, September 1, 2012, at Jaclin Smith’s home at 106 Jaclin Way near the end of West Oden Bay Road, east of Sandpoint, Idaho. Jane was born to Charles and Anna Carter on June 22, 1919 in Utica, New York where she grew up with her younger brother Chuck. Jane met her future husband, John, while she was in nurses training at New England Sanitarium and Hospital, just outside of Boston, where she completed her RN degree in 1941. With both of their families living on the East Coast, John and Jane went from West Hollywood, California to Las Vegas, Nevada, getting married there on New Years Eve 1941. They spent a brief honeymoon in Death Valley, California. After John completed medical school and his residency in California. in 1950 the Smith family moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, on January 4, 1952, arriving during a blizzard. Jane was mostly a stay at home mom, but when needed, she would work beside her husband in his medical office. Around 1958, John and Jane bought the ready-to-open Sandpoint Manor Nursing Home and Jane became it’s first General Manager. They owned the Manor (now Alpine Vista) until the early 60’s... Jane then returned to being a full time wife and mother, her true calling. In 1980 Dr. John and Jane Smith served as medical missionaries in Botswana, Africa. Jane took care of the babies and saved the life of one very small preemie. On their way home with their granddaughter, Jana, they flew east on around the world taking in some of the sights along the way. Jane and John were both very active in the Sandpoint Seventh-day-Adventist Church and School, serving in many areas of need. She was a gracious hostess and well known for making food like: banana nut bread, wild rice, raspberry cobbler and other wonderful dishes for which she will be long remembered. In addition to her family and friends, Jane dearly loved the Lord and spoke often of looking forward to seeing her Savior at His second coming. Jane is survived by her children: Jaclin Smith, Sandpoint, Idaho, Nancy (& Alan) Gaunt, Spokane, Washington; and Chuck (& Beth) Smith, Sandpoint, Idaho; also two granddaughters: Jana (& Kenny) Boyd, Forest Falls, California, Patty (& Greg) Buringa, Spokane, Washington; and seven great grandchildren in Washington, California, and Montana. Jane chose to be cremated and she will be laid to rest with her husband at Pinecrest Cemetery, west of Sandpoint, Idaho. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ADRA, Adventist Disaster Relief Association at www.adra.org.