Muriel M. Smith

1923 - 2022

Muriel Armstrong Smith left this world on November 16, 2022 at the age of 99 having lived a full and good life. She was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on August 31, 1923, and grew up in Royal Oak, Michigan, the second of five children, all of whom have pre-deceased her.

After graduating from high school, she joined the Navy as a Wave in 1943, where she served as a Pharmacist Mate Third Class at the Navy Hospital in Oakland, California, a receiving hospital for soldiers returning from overseas. There, she met a Navy Corpsman, Leonard Jenne. They married in July, 1945 and settled down in Berkley, Michigan where they had two children, Susan and Leonard Jr. (Lee). Tragedy struck in 1954, when Leonard was killed in a hit and run crash by a car that was running away from the police. Muriel became a widow with two young children at the age of 29.

She moved with Susan and Lee to Florida to be closer to her parents and found work as a secretary. After a few job changes, she began working as the secretary for Don Smith at his company. She worked for Don for 11 years. In 1972, Muriel married Don, a widower with six children – Geoff, Don III, Lauren, Steve, Jill (now deceased) and Christopher (now deceased). Their marriage and blended family was a remarkably strong and happy union, filled with travel, family vacations, and the company of many friends. The family had its share of tragedies, but they were always there for each other and remained strong with their love. In 2016, after 44 years of marriage, Muriel lost her beloved Don. She spent her 90s as the same strong and kind woman she had always been.

Muriel is survived by her two children, Susan Harrison and Lee Jennie, her four Smith children Geoff, Donald III, Lauren Nugent and Steve and their spouses, as well as 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

It is Muriel's wish that there be no funeral service for her. She has cherished her family and many friends and hopes they will remember her with the same affection she had for them. She had a life well lived.