JEAN A. SMITH, 87, of Cherokee and former longtime rural Holstein, Iowa resident passed away Saturday, May 16, 2009 at the Cherokee Villa Nursing and Rehab Center.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 20th at 10:30 a.m. at the Quimby United Methodist Church. Pastor Richard Layman will officiate. Burial will be in the Afton Township Cemetery, rural Cherokee. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. at the Church on Wednesday. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee with the family present from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. On line condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Jean was born June 13, 1921 in rural Pierson, Iowa, Cherokee County to Carl A. and Edna (Stevenson) Peterson. She went to country school and graduated from Larrabee High School in 1939. She attended Buena Vista College and received her teaching certificate. She taught school for 2 years until her marriage to John S. Smith on December 28, 1944 at rural Larrabee, Iowa. She was a member of the Quimby United Methodist Church and had been active in all church functions. She had been a Sunday School teacher, M.Y.F. mentor, Church Circle, held U.M.W. offices and was a prayer warrior for the Sioux City Gospel Mission. She enjoyed gardening, embroidery work and baking. She received many awards in the baking competition at the Cherokee County Fair. One of her greatest loves was being the hostess, organizer and preparing food for family reunions or for friends stopping at her home.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband on January 16, 1988, three sisters Sally Roseen, Nellie Shouse Berg, and Burnette Johnston; three brothers Elmo, Karl and Paul Peterson.

She is survived by her children, Kenneth L. Smith and his wife Fran of Hannibal, Missouri; Sharon A. Lovrien and her husband Dr. Fred Lovrien of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Darrell J. Smith and his wife Gloria of Olathe, Kansas; Gerald E. Smith and his wife Carol of Holstein, Iowa; 9 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren; her brothers and sisters: Jeraldine Hammer and her husband Louis of Pocahontas, Iowa; Roberta Jones and her husband Glen of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Gilbert Peterson and his wife Norma of Phoenix, Arizona; Ernest Peterson and his wife Doris of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; Clarence "Ted" Peterson and his wife Darlene of Sioux City, Iowa; Ralph Peterson and his wife Dottie of Wichita, Kansas; many nieces and nephews.