Jean Coates Smith

Born Jean McMurry Coates on March 30,1937 in Kansas City, MO, her fondest childhood memories were of summers at Lake Lotawana and camp days at Camp Lake Hubert in Minnesota. She graduated from Sunset Hill School (1955) and Northwestern University (1959) where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She married Gad Smith in 1963, and he remained her partner in life for 54 years. While raising four children, she served her community through the Junior League of KC, as PTA president at Shawnee Mission East, and as City Councilwoman and Mayor of Mission Hills, KS. She and Dad went on to own and operate their own business, River Spruce Cottages, in Estes Park, CO from 1994 to 2009. They loved welcoming guests to their cabins on the Big Thompson River, and sharing their extensive knowledge of Estes Park and of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Our Mom was passionate about fishing, hiking, and travel. Some of her adventures led her to Antarctica, Iceland, the Galapagos Islands, and backpacking the Milford Track in New Zealand. Among her most treasured memories were the decades spent visiting her twin sister, Carol, and brother-in-law, Cliff Halvorson, in Oregon—over fifty years of laughter, stories, and Oregon beauty. She also loved sewing, knitting, cooking, and curating her extensive doll collection.

She was fiercely independent and never afraid to speak her mind. She met life’s challenges head-on, and she carved her own path with conviction and clarity. She was also incredibly generous and thoughtful. She spent her final years living independently at Claridge Court, surrounded by a vibrant circle of friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gad C. Smith.

She is survived by her twin sister and best friend, Carol Halvorson, her older brother, Nick Coates, her 4 children, Katherine Smith Kross (Glenn Powell), G. Clarke Smith, Jr. (Beth Hogerty), Sara Smith Honan (Bill) and Brian C. Smith (Alex Struck). She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Callie Smith, Olive Honan, Graham Smith and Liam Smith.

Private services will be held.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial contributions to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, PO Box 3100, Estes Park, CO 80517 rmconservancy.org - a place close to her heart, or simply take a quiet walk outdoors and think of Mom. She’d love that.