Jayne Haugen Smith

Jayne Smith passed away quietly on August 27, 2015 at Walter Reed Convalescent Center in Gloucester, VA, at the age of 94. She was born in Altoona, PA on January 10, 1921 to the late Paul and Corabelle Haugen. After living in Chicago and Minneapolis, she and her husband, John Smith settled in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they lived from 1940 to 1960 and had their 4 children. They then moved to Silver Spring, MD and finally settled in Williamsburg, VA in 1979. Jayne received her Bachelor’s degree in History from Coe College in Cedar Rapids and taught junior high school but her passion was the American Field Service. She spent most of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s working and volunteering for this international student exchange program, feeling one-on-one relationships with other people from other cultures was the best way to help create peace on this earth.

After moving to Williamsburg, she also took up oil painting under the tutelage of Violet Parker. Her works could often be seen at the Williamsburg Regional Library and the then 20th century Gallery. She was also an active member of the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church.

Jayne is preceded in death by her husband, John Smith. Jayne is survived by her children, Sharon Smith Potter (Elmer), Bruce Smith (Gini), Deborah Smith Noonan (Bob) and Scott Smith (Sandi Godbey). She has 5 grandchildren, Timothy Potter (Mari), Douglas Potter (Traci), Amber Smith Dedus (Alen), Laura Smith and Paul Noonan. She also has 6 great-grandchildren, Dolan, Luke and Kenzie Potter, Asia Wilson, Nico Roy and Natalie Dedus; and numerous step-grands, step great-grands and step great-great grands. She also calls Gunter Lehman of Kassel, Germany, Maria Cordoeiro of Libson, Portugal and Husam Al-Mufti of Antayla of Turkey, her children.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 Tuesday, September 1 at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, VA. A celebration of her life will be held at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Field Service, 71 West 23rd St., 6th FL, NY, NY 10010-4102. Burial will be at Cedar Memorial Park in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Online condolences may be offered at www.nelsencares.com.