Myra Ruth Jaccard Smith was born September 12, 1932 in Los Angeles, CA at "Queen of Angels" hospital, and she has truly been an angel to all those who know her.

She was a beloved surprise "angel" to her parents William Nile and Ruth (Barker) Jaccard. She was spoiled with attention from her much older siblings Marilyn (10 years older) and Bill (14 years older), who called her Pie, Pie face, Plummer, and Brickie (due to her beautiful red hair).

Myra grew up in Glendale, California, where she loved to sing (as a wedding singer on occasion) and ride horses. She galloped around the neighborhood on pretend horses until her father finally bought her a real one—every one of her grandkids has heard about her prized horse, "Gay Alice." She played paper dolls, headed up neighborhood games, and ran faster than every kid on the block with her Jaccard jumping legs (now you know where Kent gets it!). Her classmates took to calling her Smiley, a mark of the bright personality and incomparable smile that stayed with her and lit up every room she ever entered.

She took her smile to UC Santa Barbara for college, where she studied to be an elementary school teacher, was a member of Delta Gamma, and enjoyed student body leadership. Her wonderful college days equipped her with lifelong memories and friends, none more important than Dudley Gene Smith, who she first met at a sorority sister's wedding. Dudley called it love at first sight. The problem was that she was on a date with someone else. They eventually found their way to a first date, after which Dudley declared, "I am going to marry that girl." He was right—they were married on August 22, 1954.

After a year of marriage, they welcomed baby Kristan, followed shortly by Kimberley, Kent and Karin, who all feel so blessed to have been raised by schoolteachers who gave them a happy, fun-filled, and creative life. Each morning, there would be six school lunches on the kitchen sink, and the Smith family would be off! They treasured sharing school vacations and the summers off together as a family.

Myra was the quintessential elementary school teacher. With a master's degree in education, she taught kindergarten for 31 years and then ran a pre-school with her daughter Karin for 25 years. She wrote a circus performance for her students that became so famous kids would come from other schools just to be in her kindergarten class. She continued putting on the circus with her preschool children, much to the delight of the parents and kids, including many of her own grandchildren.

Outside of her teaching career, Myra was active in her church community. She and Dudley joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in their 40s and were endlessly grateful for the influence that decision had on their family. Myra loved her many church responsibilities, including the time she spent as primary president and as a temple worker in San Diego and Newport Beach. She also really loved collecting dolls, amassing an incredible collection of hundreds of dolls that lined glass cases throughout her home.

More than anything, Myra loved her family and was a constant source of support and encouragement to them. The world's greatest spectator, Myra hardly saw a week go by where she wasn't in her trusty lawn chair on the sideline or on her foam cushion in the bleachers of a grandkid's game. She was so proud of her posterity. She will always be remembered for her family gatherings, where she would ring her preschool bell to get everyone's attention. She created so many cherished family traditions, including her annual Valentine's Day party, Easter egg hunt, Thanksgiving talent show, and Christmas Eve trip to an amusement park. She also somehow managed to send out birthday cards for over 100 family members every year, each handpicked and handwritten in the beautiful cursive script of a schoolteacher. All of that, and still no gray hair in all of her 91 years—a fact that absolutely delighted her.

Our angel Myra passed on November 1, 2023, surrounded by her children and their spouses. We know she was greeted in the next life by her ever-patient husband, who no doubt gathered the family together in eager anticipation, "HERE SHE COMES!" Reunited, Myra and Dudley now watch over us together, with a bird's eye view of our sports games and busy lives, cheering us on hand in hand from their matching lawn chairs. With 22 grandkids and 56 great grand kids (with more coming this year), it's a big job!

Kristan and Greg Anderson:

Ryan, Kyle, Nikki, Chad and Kendall, with 18 great grandkids.

Kim and Aaron Gardner:

Rachel, Shellie, Chris, Tyler, Dani and Hayley, with 19 great grandkids.

Kent and Jackie Smith: Jessie, Andrew, Matt, Makenna, CJ, Sam and Spencer, with 13 great grandkids (and 1 on the way).

Karin and Gary Baker: Amanda, Brett, Brandon, Braden Baker, with 6 great grandkids (and 1 on the way).

Mom, it is so comforting to know that we have you as our very own angel in heaven, working overtime with Dad at looking out for us! See you on the other side of the horizon, mama.

Topic: Myra Smith's Memorial Service

Time: Nov 14, 2023 02:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

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