Jody Smith

Jody was born Sept. 22, 1959 in Fresno, Calif. She is survived by her husband, Juergen; daughter, Jessica; son, Christopher and daughter-in-law, Ximena; adopted son, Apolinar De Jesus; brother, William R. Head; and sister Janet Hallem.

Jody's greatest joy were her two grandchildren: Jonathan and Abby.

Jody took great pleasure in helping others - donating her time in the community with the Salvation Army, her Church as a Sunday School Teacher and the Boy Scouts as a Community Member. If you knew her, you knew of her passion for Quilting. She would spend countless hours making various items and lap quilts for her friends, family and residents of the Eden Valley Retirement Center in Soledad, Calif.

As a child, Jody grew up in Mexico. Her parents were teachers at the American School Embassy. Later, they returned to Fresno where she attended Hoover High School, Fresno Community College and then Fresno State receiving a Degree in Journalism. She became the Managing Editor of a major newspaper in Monterey County. When her children were born, she decided to stay home and become a homemaker.

In 1982, she met Juergen. They were married on June 9, 1984 and took residence in Seaside, Calif. They would then move to Greenfield, Calif., in 1986 and remain there until her untimely death. During that time, she worked with the Greenfield Elementary School District as their Librarian for all five schools and took pride in helping her 5th grade students raise enough to go to Science Camp each year through local fundraisers. In recognition of her commitment and community service, KSBW awarded her the Jefferson Award in 2011.

Military service has always been important to her family dating back to the American Revolution to most recently, Afghanistan, where members of her family served our Country proudly. Her great-great grandfather was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Lincoln and General Grant. Jody was also a descendent of the Mayflower Society, related to John Elden.

She will be missed by her family, friends and the community she loved.

Services and Celebration of Life will be at Family Christian Center on 103 Ninth St., in Greenfield on July 14 at 6 p.m.

Published in Salinas Valley Tribune · July 11, 2022