Emma Jean Smith

Emma Jean Smith
April 12, 1938 – January 24, 2025

Emma Jean Smith, 86, formerly of New Palestine, Indiana, and living in Terre Haute, Indiana, died on
January 24, 2025 at Springville Village. She was born April 12, 1938, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Hugh
Edward Strickland and Bernice Gertrude Wesson Strickland. She married Jimmie Neal Smith on February
16, 1953. Jimmie preceded her in death on June 18, 2011, after a wonderful marriage of 58 years. Jean
was an incredible mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and, just recently, great-great-
grandmother. She retired from Southern Hancock County Community School Corporation in New
Palestine, Indiana. Jean enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She enjoyed taking her and
Jimmie’s boat out on Lake Patoka to go fishing. Jean spent many a summer raising a large garden and
canning all the fresh vegetables for her family. Her favorite was garden fresh tomatoes. She always
enjoyed reading and loved a good story. Jean never had a better time than when her grandkids came to
visit. Another great passion she had was sewing which she used to make everyone handmade quilts.
Her absence will be deeply felt by all of those who knew and loved her. Jean is survived by her children:
Teresa Ann Wood; David (Nancy) Neal Smith, and Janice Lee (Jeff) Fields. In addition, she leaves behind 13
grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Emma Jean was preceded in
death by: her parents; two children – Brenda Gail Smith and Richard Allen Smith; one son-in-law,
Michael Glenn Wood; and beloved husband, Jimmie Neal Smith.

Graveside services will held on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. CST at New Hope Cemetery in Westmoreland, TN. Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 29, 2025,  from 6 - 8 p.m. at Greiner Funeral Home, 2005, North 13th Street, Terre Haute, IN., 47804. 

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