Jennifer DiAnn Ney

Jennifer was born in Oklahoma City on June 20, 1962, but moved to Fort Smith at an early age. She is survived by her father, Randy Ney, and wife Lea of Houston, Texas, brother Marshall Ney and wife Richalle and nephew and niece Smith and Isabella of Rogers, as well as brother Jonathan Marshall Ney of Dallas, Texas. Her uncle Jerry Ney of Culver, Indiana, aunt Sue Smith Kennedy of Sleepy Hollow, NY, great aunt Sydney Sternberg of Tulsa, and great uncle Irvin Sternberg of Fort Smith also survive her.

Jennifer was preceded in death by her mother DiAnn Smith Riggs, brother Randolph Carney Ney and grandparents Ione and Jerome Ney and Helen and Delbert Smith. Jennifer’s family members were long time residents of Fort Smith and her great grandfather Rudolph Ney founded the Boston Store.

Jennifer attended Fort Smith public schools and was a graduate of Southside High School. During those years, she was an avid tennis player, a member of the basketball team, a Dixie Belle and a cheerleader her senior year.

She spent many years working as a retail fashion buyer and consultant at the Boston Store in Fort Smith, the White House and Gus Mayer in Beaumont, Texas, all of which were owned by the Ney family. She also spent various years working at Balliet’s in Oklahoma City, Renberg’s in Tulsa, Ok, Burdine’s in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She lived in Houston the last twenty years of her life where she was a devoted caregiver for many years. In October of 2012 she returned to her hometown of Fort Smith, with her dog Shadow to reside with her dear friend Kathy.

Jennifer will always be remembered as a loving daughter, a loving sister, and a loyal friend. She was a passionate animal lover and culinary enthusiast.

The family would like to thank Kathy Flanders, Margot and Debbie Carney, Deana Jesson Hankins and Peachtree Hospice for the love and care they provided Jennifer during her last months. Jennifer treasured her friendship with Mary Taggart of Port Arthur, TX, Kathy Loep, Samantha Ray, Tisha Cartwright, Christina Cochran and Henry Gullette, all of Houston TX.

The family would also like to thank the same caregivers who took care of Jennifer’s grandmother Ione Ney, namely Connie Sheffield, Marissa Lambert-Sims, Sabrina Brevard and Kim Oliver.

A memorial service will be held for Jennifer on March 1 at 11 am, at Fentress Mortuary in Fort Smith.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to The Sebastian County Humane Society, 3800 Kelley Highway, Fort Smith, Arkansas, 72904, or M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, P O Box 4464, Houston, Texas, 77210-4464, where Jennifer received loving care and treatment for many months.