Jean Marie Smith

MADISON - Jean Marie Smith, 77 of Madison, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at Oakwood Village West. She was born on January 8, 1932 in Chicago, the daughter of Melvin and Dorothy Smith. She married Roy Reeves in 1959 in Fulton, Mississippi and was widowed. She married Harold Gilbertson in 1969, and later divorced. During the Korean Conflict she served in the U.S. Navy as a WAVE from 1952-1954, stationed in Oahu, Hawaii for a year. She graduated from Illinois State Normal University with a B.S. of Art Education in 1958. She taught K-12 Art in Zion and Waukegan IL Schools, and later for Madison area schools. Jean attended the Wisconsin School of Electronics, then worked as an engineer-switcher for the radio/TV station KJNP in Fairbanks, Alaska, and furthered her education at the University of Alaska - Fairbanks. Later she returned to Madison to be closer to family. She worked for TDS, Bethel Lutheran Church, and Cardinal Stritch College. When she retired, she was very active at Oakwood West in the Art Department, making many original pottery pieces to gift her friends and family. She was an active member of Transformed Life Fellowship. She is survived by her two daughters, Victoria Morrison of Crystal MN, Esther (David) Moore of Belleville; three grandchildren, Amy Moore (Fiancé Jason Pitzer) of Madison, Benjamin Moore of Madison, and William Morrison V of Crystal, MN; her half sister Sandy Smith of Itasca IL; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Roy Reeves; her parents, sisters: June Cooley, JoAnne Larrimore and Janet Richards, and half brother Melvin Smith Jr. A Memorial Service will be held at the Oakwood Village West Chapel Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 11 a.m. with Retired Air force Chaplin Dr. Ridley Usherwood officiating. Her grandchildren meant the world to her, as she loved hearing about their accomplishments. Ben graduated from the UW-Madison. Amy ran 2 marathons for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to honor her. She enjoyed helping with Amy and Jason's wedding plans. She will be missed by her family and the huge circle of friends she has made over the years. The family would like to thank the Oakwood West Village staff and residents, the Wm. S. Middleton Memorial Veteran's Hospital staff and HospiceCare Staff for the professional, loving care she received all through her illness.