Jeanne Cauthen Smith
June 6, 1928 ~ May 11, 2018
Jeanne Cauthen Smith of Cortez, Colo., died Friday, May 11, 2018, in her Cortez Home. Jeanne was born in Albuquerque on June 6, 1928, to Katherine and John Cauthen.
Jeanne was an excellent trumpet player at an early age and played in the Dolores High School band. Jeanne graduated in 1948 from Dolores High all the while working for her father at the Dolores Market. She attended the University of Colorado before returning to Dolores to marry the love of her life Frank Leroy Smith on Jan. 1, 1949, in Dolores, CO. Jeanne was always an entrepreneur and a very hard worker! Frank and Jeanne stayed in Dolores until their daughter Patricia Smith was born in August 1950. This young family moved to Rangely, Colo., to pursue work in the oilfields. Their son Michael Smith was born in 1953. Along with being a mother, Jeanne had many jobs, some included: telephone operator, dispatcher, apartment management and retail sales. Jeanne’s husband Frank gave her a medical scare, so she “went back to school when she was too old to” in order to help take care of their family. Jeanne graduated from Western State College 1967 and began teaching in Rangely, Colo., and is a well-remembered science teacher. Frank and Jeanne retired in 1982 and moved back to their beloved “high country” on Priest Creek. In 1996 they moved into a beautiful home that they designed in Cortez, Colo., and lived there until their deaths.
When Jeanne was asked how she wanted to be remembered, she said “I love my memories of people who meant so much to me, especially my family.” Jeanne proved this by all the stories she told about them! Jeanne loved to cook and can, and we especially loved her chicken pot pie!
Jeanne is preceded in death by her mother, Katherine Aubrey Cauthen; her father, John Thomas Cauthen; sister Pat Harris; brother Jack Cauthen; and husband, Frank Leroy Smith.
Jeanne is survived by her children, daughter Patricia Smith and partner Nancy Talley of Bayfield, Colo.; son Michael F. Smith and wife Connie of Houston, Texas; her grandchildren, Lyndsay Francies and husband George of Houston, Texas; and Ryan Smith and wife Kelli also of Houston, Texas; as well as six great-grandchildren!
As requested by Jeanne, no services will be held. We will have a “celebration of life” at Jeanne’s home on June 23, 2018 from 2-4 p.m. at 2704 Golf Course Dr., Cortez, Colo.
