Jayne (Jarrett) Smith, age 87, of Pendleton, passed away peacefully in her sleep, after a brief illness following heart surgery, on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011. She was born in Muncie on May 8, 1924, the second daughter, and third of five children, to Dewey and Geneva (Dillie) Jarrett.
Jayne grew up primarily in Muncie, where she graduated from Burris School in 1943. However, her family moved to Los Angeles twice for short periods during the Great Depression. After graduation, Jayne moved to Dayton, Ohio, and then on to Philadelphia, Pa., working for the U.S. Civil Service, doing her part for the war effort. It was in Philadelphia that she met and fell in love with her future husband, Morris O. "Smitty" Smith, a young sailor from Shelbyville, Ind., who was serving aboard the USS Tuscaloosa, a heavy cruiser. Jayne and Smitty were married in Vallejo, Calif. in December 1944, near where the Tuscaloosa was berthed in San Francisco after participating in the invasion of Normandy and before departing to play a major role in the final sea battles of the Pacific Theater.
After the war, Jayne and Smitty moved to Muncie where Jayne supported them while Smitty attended Ball State University. She worked as the executive assistant to the manager of the Sears Roebuck store in Muncie. They lived at 3215 Petty Rd. in Muncie until 1962 when they moved into a new home in Pendleton, constructed by Smitty’s Vocational Building Trades class at Madison Heights High School, one of the first projects of this kind in the country.
Jayne and Smitty raised their five children in their Pendleton home but found time to pursue their love of travel, embarking on an around-the-world tour in 1985. Jayne was active in the Anderson and Pendleton communities. For many years, she served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Anderson Library, including service as its President. She was a member of the Madison County Extension Homemakers for over 40 years and a member of the Pendleton First United Methodist Church for 49 years. She was an avid gardener and quilter.
Jayne is survived by four children, Stephen (Janice) Smith of Indianapolis; Melissa (Gregory) Hannah of Northville, Mich., Susan (David) Barrett of Pendleton, and Alisa (Shane) Cline of Pendleton. She is also survived by her brothers, Paul Jarrett, MD of Anderson, Robert Jarrett of Fishers, Ind.; and her sister, Patricia Minor of Greencastle, Ind. Jayne was especially close to, and will be greatly missed by, her grandchildren, Sarah, Nicholas, Matthew (Andrea), Zack, James, Jennefer, Christopher, Madeline, Ella, Conner, Emily and Sophia, as well as her great granddaughter, Audrey.
Jayne was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Morris O. Smith (LCDR, USN); sons, Kurt and Bruce Mahlon; sister, Norma Ewing Pence Wagner of Muncie.
Friends were called from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Home. Services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, at the funeral home, with Rev. Tammy Mills officiating. Burial was held at Elm Ridge Memorial Park in Muncie.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Friends of the Anderson Library, 111 East 12th Street, Anderson, IN 46013-2701.
Online condolences may be shared at www.brownbutzdiedring.com