Jewell Rheadell (Lester) Smith

JEWELL SMITH

JERSEYVILLE - Jewell Rheadell (Lester) Smith, 85, died at 5:12 p.m., Friday, October 4, 2024 at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

She was born in Reyno, Arkansas on November 7, 1938, and was the daughter of the late Eugene and Molissa (Duff) Lester.

After settling in Jerseyville, Jewell served the community as a nurse at Jersey Community Hospital in Jerseyville retiring in 2002, making lifelong relationships with her wonderful colleagues. She was also a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church, where again, she cherished the many friendships and memories she made through the years. Jewell loved the Lord, and taught Bible studies at both her church and Hawthorne Inn in Jerseyville, where she enjoyed being a resident the last few years, and served on the board of Sonshine Kids. She possessed a listening ear for those that needed heard.

After retirement, she met George Howard Smith, and the two married on July 30, 2011.  Although way too brief, they enjoyed a happy marriage until his sudden death on June 4, 2013.

Surviving are a son, Eric Harp of Mesquite, Texas; many cousins, nieces and nephews.  She was "Memaw" to Rick and Vicki Sherman of Jerseyville, and their children and families, Leah, Logan, Lettie and Lawson Knabe of Jerseyville, and Andrea, Jeremy, Jackson and Lola Yoder of Piasa; as well as a sister, Willie Taylor of Kerrville, Texas.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, James Kevin Harp; three sisters, Christine King, Sharon Smith and Opal Looney; and five brothers, Howard "Bud", Virel, Lee Roy, Jesse and Velta Lester.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Wednesday until time of funeral services at noon at the First United Methodist Church in Jerseyville.

Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.

Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church in Jerseyville.

Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville is in charge of the arrangements.

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