Jessie Margaret Smith

Jessie was born to Henry and Loraine Conklin in Covina, CA and was the fifth of eight children. The Conklins relocated to McFarland, CA in the late 1950’s as their family rose business expanded. Jessie was active in school where she met the love of her life, Ken.

Married in 1965, Ken & Jessie soon started their family and were blessed with two daughters. In the early 1970’s they moved to Pennsylvania to start their rose packaging business, Paramount Nursery Packaging company. Working side by side, they built a successful business while raising their children. They moved back to McFarland in 1986 and once again built a successful business growing roses until their retirement in 2015. Family was the most important thing to Jessie. She was instrumental and actively involved in their lives and will be greatly missed by all.

Jessie is survived by her husband of 56 years, Kenneth Smith of Bakersfield as well as her daughters Kristine and husband Jim Strasenburgh of Baltimore, MD and Melissa and her husband Chris Apsit of Bakersfield, CA; grandchildren Zackery Upshaw and Courtni Franks, Peter, Evan, and Grace Apsit, great-granddaughter Jenna Upshaw; siblings Daryl Conklin, Henry and Patty Conklin, Charlotte Marengo, and Caroline and Jim Ludy. Jessie was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Loraine Conklin and her siblings Timothy Conklin, William Conklin, Hilda Glidewell, and Penelope Pierce.

Visitation will be held Saturday, August 21, from 12-1 p.m. at Hillcrest Memorial Park Chapel. A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorial.com for the Smith family.