Jean Smith

1944 - 2020

AUBURN - Jean Marie Smith, age 76, of Auburn, died November 24, 2020 at Parkview Dekalb Hospital, Auburn.

Jean was born in Fort Wayne on November 20, 1944 to the late William John and Ida Sarah (Ehle) Peters.

She graduated from New Haven High School 1962.

She married Donald Dean Smith April 24, 1976 at Emanuel Lutheran Church in New Haven. Don preceded her in death March, 2012. Jean was employed with International Harvester, Ft. Wayne for 17 years until they closed in 1984. She went on to own and operate The Anchor Inn/Lighthouse Restaurant in Rome City for 16 years along with her husband, Don. She ended her working career at Avilla Elementary School in Avilla. Jean loved spending time with her family & friends, especially her grandchildren, great grandchildren and her EN family.

Survivors include her daughter, Cheryl and Joe Cochran of Albion, grandsons Adam McGill, Nigel Cochran, Ethan Cochran and Great Grandson Owen McGill, a brother, Keith and Kathy Peters of New Haven and family, a sister, Connie Hazelrigg of Fort Wayne and family, and her stepmother, Betty Bullerman Peters of Hoagland and family, stepdaughters Deborah Steward, Fort Wayne and Sheryl and Kevin Schieferstein and family of Churubusco, stepsons Randy Smith and family of Fort Wayne, Rusty and Pamela Tilley and family of Ossian and stepdaughters Colene Smith and family of Churubusco and Donna Baker and family of Fort Wayne.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ida Peters; her husband, Don; brother, Charles Peters; niece, Brooke Peters, step son-in-law Benji Steward and step daughter-in-law Joyce Smith.

There will be a gathering of family and friends on Monday, November 30, 2020 from 3-5 p.m. at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville with a private, family only funeral service at 5 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the Lutheran Hospital Heart Transplant program.

Share a favorite memory or send a condolence online at hitefuneralhome.com

Arrangements entrusted to Hite Funeral Home.