Jacqueline "Jackie" Lee (Howard) Smith

Jacqueline Smith, 79, of Tucson AZ, passed away Thursday, June 28th 2018.

Jacqueline (“Jackie”) was born October 10th, 1938 in Sterling, Illinois to William and Virginia Howard. She grew up in Sterling, graduated from Newman High School in 1956 and went on to study at St. Anthony’s School of Radiology. After completing her certification, Jackie worked as a radiology technician at the Dixon State Hospital and the Sterling Rock Falls Clinic. In 1982, Jackie started a new chapter of life as she moved with her children to the place she fell in love with, Tucson, Arizona. The next ten years she raised her children, and in 1992, Jackie took another big adventure by working abroad for a year. During that year, she was based out of Riyadh Hospital in Saudi Arabia, and had many wonderful experiences traveling to other countries.

Despite all of Jackie’s adventures, the thing that mattered the most to her was taking care of those she loved; her door was always open to help. She also loved her books and was an avid reader, often escaping into three books at a time. Her love of words inspired her to contemplate wise sayings, and her mantra was, “You haven’t failed until you quit trying”. Her Russian “tough love” encased a heart of gold. Jackie leaves behind wonderful stories and a special individual song we will think of her when we hear. Jackie will be greatly missed but her family takes great comfort in knowing that she is enjoying eternity in Heaven with God.

Jackie was preceded in death by: her parents, William and Virginia, and her son Gary Smith, Jr. Jackie is survived: by her children Grant, Brian, Jill, and Joy; her siblings Judy, Bill, Jim, and Mike; and her grandchildren Jared, Sarah, Laurelle, Amanda, Nicole, Alex, Samuel, Trevor, and Anthony. She also leaves behind four great-grandchildren and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

Jackie’s life will be celebrated at Sabino Road Baptist Church on July 25th, 2018 at 11am.

There will be a luncheon served directly following the celebration.