Janis Kathleen Smith

Janis Kathleen Smith left the bonds of this earth on November 19th, 2024. Born to Herbert and Catherine Brenner on April 28, 1935, she grew into a beautiful, successful woman who accomplished many things and was loved by the many who met her. She was a natural born athlete who excelled in many sports; tennis, golf, swimming, snow skiing and running marathons. (she also climbed all the 14,000 ft peaks in Colorado along with her women' group) But her greatest accomplishments were as wife and mother, grandmother and great grandmother to her extended family. She was an avid animal lover and dedicated many years to the Humane Society and was instrumental in having a fence built around the property.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her 5 Housley uncles and a brother, Dr. George Brenner. In 1957 she married Robert Bruce Smith, and a marriage of 67 years began. She and Bruce lived on the same street during their grade school years then later as a couple at The University of Arkansas where she was a member of the Tri Delta Sorority. She graduated with a degree in Elementary education and taught 3rd grade at Rix school for two years, then left to start her own family with Bruce which included two sons and a daughter. (David, Paul and Catherine) When the kids were older, she decided to become an Avon rep in her spare time driving her route in a Fiat convertible with the family dog, a Great Dane, in the passenger seat to attract attention.

They moved to Denver when Bruce got a job as Director of Sales and Marketing for one of the largest cable TV systems in the country and she got a job with the IRS. Soon Bruce was transferred to London and Janis kept her job as taxpayer specialist as well working out of the US embassy where she met two presidents and other famous Americans and helped them with their taxes.

After 6 years, they returned to Denver and soon retired back home to Hot Springs where Janis continued to be very active with her grown children David Bruce (Renee) {Paul Brenner Smith, Catherine Canu (Matt) 6 grandchildren-Clayton David Smith, Robert Brenner Smith, Carly Scout Smith, Noah Micheal Canu, Andrew Jacob Canu, Sarah Catherine (Catie) Canu and two great grandsons, Harvey Smith 5 and Seamus Smith 2. She is survived by her husband, Bruce and her sister-in-law, Betty Williams (LA).

All was going well until Janis slowly showed signs of dementia and neuropathy in her legs. Unfortunately, she had a bad fall, which caused a concussion, a broken vertebrae and elbow, it was just too much for her to endure thus her untimely death .... but oh what a life she had and we all know she would never change a thing!