Jeanine "Jan" W. Smith

Jeanine “Jan” W. Smith, 78, passed away on August 29, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was born on June 5, 1948, in Forres, Scotland, to her parents, Milared Bogdanovic and Stella May Eckersley. Jan carried her Scottish heritage with pride throughout her life, along with the strength and character that came from knowing exactly who she was.

Jan was a strong presence in the lives of her family and the people who knew her. She was fiercely loyal to those she loved and never afraid to speak her mind. Jan met life with resilience, courage, and a strong will. She was independent, determined, and, at times, wonderfully stubborn. She knew what she believed, knew what she liked, and was not particularly interested in pretending otherwise.

She was honest and wise, with a sense of humor that could catch you off guard. Jan could be blunt, opinionated, and sometimes a little ornery—but that was part of what made her Jan. She wasn't one to put on airs or sugarcoat things. You always knew where you stood with her.

And then there was her laugh. Jan had an infectious, deep belly laugh that could take over a room. Sometimes she would start laughing so hard and so uncontrollably that you couldn't help but join in, even when you had absolutely no idea what she was laughing about. Before long, everyone around her would be laughing right along with her. That laughter was unmistakably Jan—and it's a sound those who loved her will never forget.

While Jan wasn't always one to express her feelings with words or grand gestures, she cared deeply about the people she considered her own. Her love was often shown in the practical, everyday ways she knew best. She watched out for her family, worried about them, supported them, and remained a constant presence in their lives—even from far away. Distance never meant that she stopped caring or stopped being part of their lives.

Her strength, loyalty, and unmistakable presence will be among the things they remember most.

Jan was immensely proud of being Scottish. She also took great joy in following her favorite sports teams, including the Elway-era Denver Broncos and the Vegas Golden Knights. She was especially fond of Marc-André Fleury and followed him with true devotion.

She enjoyed a Guinness—because, after all, she was Scottish, and apparently that came with certain obligations. She loved reading historical romance novels and found comfort in watching the BBC. She was also a little adventurous in her younger years, including a memorable childhood experience climbing trees to pick apples alongside Prince Charles, who is now the King of Great Britain. It was just one of those wonderfully unexpected stories from Jan's life—one that most people could never claim to have.

Jan was happiest outdoors, soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the warmth of the day. While she was always proud of her Scottish roots, she also developed a genuine love for the warmth and sunshine of Nevada.

Jan had a special place in her heart for animals, and that love extended well beyond her own pets. She was drawn to animals of all kinds, including wild horses, donkeys, rabbits, and the grey and harbor seals of Scotland. Animals seemed to sense something in her, too, and she often found herself having encounters with them that were anything but ordinary.

One such encounter, while she was in Scotland, involved a seal that followed Jan back towards the shore after she had been swimming. While she loved animals, apparently there were limits to that affection—having a seal follow her out of the water was enough to give her quite a fright! She loved animals, but apparently wasn't looking to add a seal to her collection of pets.

Over the years, Jan shared her life with many beloved pets: Sachmo and Bucko, her Chihuahuas; Toenails, her hamster; Shiba, her Rottweiler; Buzz, her mutt; Glenn, her Border Collie; Boba Fett, her Pitbull; and Bun-he Bun Jovi, her bunny. Each had a name, a personality, and a place in her heart. Her love for her animals was genuine and unwavering.

Jan also enjoyed spending time at the Oasis in Indian Springs, a local bar where she could relax, enjoy a drink, and spend time in good company. It was one of the places that became part of her story and her memories.

Jan's Christian faith remained a source of strength throughout her life. It helped her find acceptance and forgiveness, and in the end, brought her comfort as she came to terms with the end of her life and found peace in her passage home.

Jan leaves behind her children, Amanda, Nicola, Candy, and Tammy; her son-in-law, Teddy; her grandchildren, Nicole, Rochelle, Frankie, Fallon, Courtney, Kristin, Gregory, Taya, and Taylor; 19 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild on the way.

She leaves behind a family who will miss her in ways that are difficult to put into words. They will remember her strength, her stubbornness, her honesty, her humor, her love of animals, her Scottish pride, and all the little things that made her uniquely Jan.

She was not perfect, and she never tried to be. She was simply herself—strong, complicated, funny, outspoken, resilient, and deeply loved.

Jan will be missed, remembered, and carried in the hearts of the family and friends whose lives she touched.