Jeannine Taylor Smith

Jeannine Taylor Smith passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on August 10, 2021, in Draper, Utah. She was born to Clarence John and Vera Leona Porter Taylor in Rexburg, ID on December 31, 1928.

Jeannine was raised in a beautiful and loving home as the second of two daughters, eight years apart. She spoke often of the grace and congeniality of her parents and family. She expressed gratitude to her parents for teaching her to pray and to love the Lord Jesus Christ. As a child, she did love the Lord, had a picture of Christ in her home and desired to be like Him. When her sister married, Jeannine was the only child at home for many years and used her after-school hours to pursue her piano and school studies.

She developed her talents early training as a classical pianist. Other talents and interests include sewing, knitting, tatting, cooking, gardening, and reading.

In answer to prayer, she met her sweetheart, Frederick Mckay Smith. They were married in the Idaho Falls temple on September 3, 1946. She spoke with affection of being warmly welcomed into McKay’s large and happy family, who foreshadowed her own future large family.

Later in life, she began teaching the piano and loved the Suzuki method. She never tired of learning and read often. A particular delight was to pursue classical training in organ from the Tabernacle Choir organist, Clay Christiansen.

Family was her first desire, though, and she regularly pushed aside her personal wishes to raise her twelve children. She is our angelic mother, and when thanked for being our mother, she responded, “It was fun!”

Pursuing her love of learning, she returned to college after raising her children and graduated with an Associates degree from Arizona Western College as a member of the Dean’s List.

Mother taught by precept and example to patiently and sincerely consider the perspective of others. She is our beautiful peacemaker, and her example regularly inspired those around her to look for the good and become a little more charitable. She made those in her presence feel loved and important. Her meek and mild approach is Christlike and powerful in the lives of those who know her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, McKay, nine-and-a-half years ago. Also preceding her in death are her parents; sister Ruth Taylor (Joseph) Jefferies; son-in-law LeDale (Linda) Mecham; grandchildren Richard Vern Jones, Jennifer Jeannine (Peter) Warinner, Kayley Angelique Smith, Jon Brant (Ruthanne) Taylor, Jessica Jeannine Rubisch; great grandson Justin David Schow; and great, great grandson Thomas Milo Schow.

She is survived by her children Linda (LeDale, deceased) Mecham, Fred (Merilyn) Smith, Taylor (Coralyn) Smith, Joseph (Deborah) Smith, Ruth (Ken) Raleigh, Rebecca (John) Mashler, Aimee (Mark) Ward, Clarence Smith (Allyson Mecham), Pete (Stephanie) Smith, Benjamin (Rebecca) Smith, Esther (Don) Rubisch, Tony (Yadira) Smith, 73 grandchildren, 176 great grandchildren, and 12 great great grandchildren at present, with others on the way.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 21, 2021, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 575 East 13800 South, Draper, Utah 84020. Friends and family may call at the same location on Friday evening from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and Saturday morning from 9:30 am to 10:30 am prior to the services. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery. To watch the funeral services online or to leave the family a message of condolence, please visit larkincares.com.

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