Gladys L. "Jackie" Smith

Following a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease, Gladys L. “Jackie” Smith, 90, of Tipton is now healthy and happy again.

Gladys or “Jackie” as most people called her, passed away peacefully at 11:35 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Tipton surrounded by family.  Jackie was born in Clay County, Tenn. on March 23, 1924, the daughter of Willie and Lee (Morris) Cunningham. Both are deceased.  She was married to Ulis “Dink” Smith. He preceded her in death on April 30, 1999.

Jackie was an avid walker. She would walk several miles a day, weather permitting. She would even drive her car and park it on a side street on not so perfect days so she could walk all over town, doing her errands and smiling and greeting everyone she saw with a “hello.” She loved to walk around Tipton City Park and also enjoyed visiting Tipton’s Fairview Cemetery.

In her earlier days, she had worked for Guide Lamp in Anderson and also at Perfect Circle in Tipton. She most enjoyed being a house wife and homemaker. She enjoyed going to see her children playing in the band or singing in the choir. Once her children were grown, she worked at a small jewelry store in Cicero as a sales consultant.  For many years, Jackie was a member of West Street Christian Church.

Jackie was a devoted mother and grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her family and many friends.

She is survived by her children, Ron and Renee Smith of Florida and Jackie Henry of Tipton; her grandchildren, Tabitha Henry of Kokomo and Abigail Henry of Tipton; great-grandchildren, Alina Henry of Tipton and Asia Newby of Kokomo; a special “granddaughter,” Kimi Dunbar of Tipton; her sisters, Pearl Scott of Tipton, Annabell Smith of Columbus and Judy Head of Portland, Tenn.; and several cousins, nieces, nephews and many of her children’s friends who would call her mom or mammie.

She was also preceded in death by siblings, Clara Vandiver, Earle Shock, Wilma Boles, Joyce Shoals,  Willie Jr. Cunningham and a a brother who died at infancy.

She was loved by many and will be missed.

Her funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Young-Nichols Funeral Home in Tipton. John Ankrom, minister at Tipton Church of Christ will officiate. Visitation will be from noon  until time of service also at the funeral home.  Burial will be at Tipton’s Fairview Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Tipton County Foundation, P.O. Box 412, Tipton, Indiana, 46072. Please make reference to the Tipton City Park Beautification Program.

The family would like to thank the staff of Miller's Merry Manor for taking such good care of mom while she was there.