Janie Merle Smith

Born on September 15, 1946, the youngest daughter, to Ira Louis “Sweetie” and Glenna Smith in Sweetwater, Texas, Janie was the independent and strong willed child who enjoyed beating up on her older sister.

After graduating from Newman High School in Sweetwater, Texas, Janie spent her professional career as a legal secretary for several law firms in Dallas, Texas including Jackson Walker, Morgan Lewis, and Winstead. Janie additionally served as the Recruiting Coordinator for Jenkins & Gilchrist in Dallas, Texas.

Janie adored her “fur babies.” She had a passion for gardening, expressing that no weeds or fallen leaves were to remain in her yard. Janie was borderline obsessed with researching the family ancestry and wanted her kin to know they were distant relatives of President James K. Polk. Speaking of family, she always looked forward to attending the annual cousin reunion in West Texas. Janie got out of her comfort zone a time or two to sing with her coworkers in a company Christmas choir and she also participated in a tap-dancing group. Doing jigsaw puzzles, playing solitaire, and cross stitching were also some of her favorite things to do.

Janie is survived by her sister, Paula Ann Miller, her nephew James Glenn Miller, her nephew Jason Louis Miller and wife Melissa, and numerous great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother-in-law, Jerry Dee Miller.

Among her many endearing personality traits, Janie’s loyal friendship, wonderful storytelling, and great sense of humor will be severely missed by all her family and friends.

Services for Janie will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 2:30 p.m., at Shannon Rufe Snow Drive Funeral Chapel in North Richland Hills, Texas. Due to Janie’s unwavering love for her pets, the family requests that any memorial gifts be sent to SPCA of Texas in memory of Janie Merle Smith. This link will take you to the SPCA’s memorial giving page: https://spca.org/support-us/give/ways-to-give/honor-memorial-giving/