Jeanne Marie Thieman Smith, was set free from this life August 18, 2015. She never walked into a room, she bebopped. Her entrance was invariably made with a bounce in her step, a beaming smile, and twinkling, sometimes mischievous eyes. “Hello, my friend!” she would chirp, greeting all she encountered as if they were the most important person on Earth. To Jeanne, every person she met, no matter how brief the exchange, was the most important person on Earth. She treated everyone with kindness, empathy, patience, and good will. Her grace and benevolence knew no bounds.
Jeanne was a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, neonatal nurse practitioner, colleague, confidant, and heroine, to name only a few of the mantles she wore during her whirlwind life. Having helped establish Joplin’s first neonatal intensive care unit at Freeman Hospital, Jeanne ushered thousands of babies in need of her healing touch into the world, and each one of them, along with their families, received the utmost in loving care from the bottomless well Jeanne carried within her. She never seemed to tire, so vast was her drive and energy.
Unwittingly, Jeanne Smith made those around her want to be better people, though she had far too much humility to ever concede this fact. She pulled others to her like a magnet, giving freely of her wisdom, her laughter, and her hugs. There are perhaps no words to adequately describe her, as Jeanne was the type of person that comes along only once in a lifetime. She liked to fish. She often spoke of the feeling of freedom she felt on the back of her husband’s motorcycle, the wind blowing through her hair. She sang silly songs. She prayed. She fixed you with a smile that would turn darkness into light. She said quietly, firmly, “Let go, and let God.” She never, ever stopped to rest. Life for Jeanne consisted of loving much, helping always, laughing often, and taking nothing for granted. During the short period of time that the world was blessed to have her, she wasted not a single second.
Jeanne would not want those who love her to feel sadness for her passing, as she has gone home. She fought a good fight, and in the end she emerged the victor, for she is with her beloved father, Harold. They are eating oats and toasted beer bread at the kitchen table, talking about going fishing, or maybe just taking a walk with the dogs. Her humble nature might cause her to be a little embarrassed at the outpouring of devotion by her loved ones, and she might caution that we are putting her on a pedestal. If so, it is a place of honor that she wholly deserves.
Among the many, many family, friends, and coworkers celebrating Jeanne’s life are her husband, Clint Smith, her daughter and son in law, Melanie and Jason Mitchell; daughter and son in law Stephanie and Jason Andrews; daughter and son in law Laura and Tyson McLaughlin; son Jeremy Smith; grandchildren Jude Mitchell, Jacy Andrews, Aiden Andrews, Tre McLaughlin, Kaden McLaughlin, and Alex Smith; sister Cathy Anderson and brother in law Steve; sister Lisa Coleman and brother in law Bill, sister Angela Madden; brother- and sister in law Charley and Susan Smith; niece Erin Madden; niece Jina Zafiris; nephew B.J. Coleman; nephew Mike Madden; niece Jessica Purdom and husband Jeff; niece Kathy Chapman and husband Doug; nephew Tucker Hughes and wife Mary; niece Carol Conness and husband Jeremy; and great-nieces and nephews Noah, Luke, Ava, Grace, Brandon, Gabriel, Seth, Zane, and Clay.
Little Jeanne, we do not know how you did it. You went full throttle your entire life, and you never wore down. You lived on your own terms, guided by an uncommon heart, and when your life came to a close, your wishes were obeyed. Our hearts are heavy with loss, yet they also spill over with the love you bestowed upon each of us. Our memories will carry us through the next step of our journey, the place where our paths diverged. We are certain that those paths will meet again one day.
Jeanne, you have impacted the lives of more people than you could ever fathom. The legacy that remains, that will undoubtedly be watched over by you, will continue for generations to come. We are all blessed to have known you, and our lives have been made all the richer by your presence. You are one of a kind. You are an inspiration. You are, simply put, magic.
Friends who have a "Team Jeanne" t-shirt are encouraged to wear them to Jeanne's services. Memorial Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday August 22, 2015 at the Risen Ranch Cowboy Church, 10697 Cimmaron Road, Carthage, MO. Contributions can be made to the Childrens Miracle Network or St. Jude’s in care of Ulmer Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at www.ulmerfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Ulmer Funeral Home.
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