JACQUELINE A. SMITH

After spending her childhood growing up in Presque Isle, Michigan and graduating from Posen Consolidated High School and Alpena’s Hollywood School of Beauty in 1981, she lived the next 13 years as a Navy wife, moving from coast to coast. She then settled back in Michigan with her children, working in various healthcare administrative positions at Health Delivery in Saginaw. At age 40, she started Delta College, received her Associates Degree in Nursing and worked at Covenant Healthcare and Select Specialty in Saginaw. In 2013, she moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado where she worked as a Breast Nurse Navigator in Craig, Colorado. After grandsons were born, she moved back to Michigan to be near her family.

Jackie fought a long battle with breast cancer, beginning in 2012. The cancer returned in 2016 in her bones and liver, and she has been on constant chemotherapy in one form or another since then. The known limited time she had left on this earth has allowed her to appreciate life, family and friends more, to keep a positive attitude, to not let the little things bother you, and to grow closer to God. Her favorite quote is “When you put your trust in God’s hands, He will put His peace in your heart.”

For the last five years, crocheting was Jackie’s passion. Her grandma taught her when she was small, but recently, she used crocheting as a form of meditation to help calm and relax her during rough times, designing and writing patterns and even being published in well-known crochet magazines. If you would like to view some of her work, search for Simply Vintage Crochet on Facebook and Instagram.

Jackie is survived by her children, Ryan Smith and Nicole (Kevin ll) Little, grandchildren Kevin lll and Brady Little, friend Mike Quiver, and former husband Peter Smith. She is also survived by her mother Marilyn and siblings Carleen Collins, Beth (Scott) Kowalski, and Jean (Bry) Stephens. She was predeceased by her father, Richard.

A small prayer service for immediate family will take place at her home with Pastor Matthew Hauser officiating. Burial will take place at Larkin Township Cemetery.

For those considering expression of sympathy, a college fund has been set up for her grandchildren in her name.

Smith-Miner Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Smith family. To share a special memory, please visit smithminer.com.