Obituary of Barbara Jane Smith
Barbara Jane Smith, age 84, of Bay City, Michigan, passed away peacefully on March
23, 2025, at Brian’s House hospice, surrounded by her loving daughter and
grandsons. Born in Michigan, to Mary and Ted Lester, Barbara lived a life marked by
determined resilience, devotion to family, and a passion for serving others.
Though she nearly completed her nursing degree, life led her to a different
path—one where she still cared for people as a secretary in hospitals, a doctor’s
office, and a church. After retirement, she volunteered with United Way, where she
took pride in interviewing World War II veterans, ensuring their stories were
preserved in the Smithsonian’s historical archives.
A fiercely loving matriarch, Barbara was preceded in death by her former husband,
Robert Smith (d. 2023), but leaves behind a legacy in her two children, Dianna and
Steve; 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and her brother, David. For years,
she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Stu, helping to raise her grandchildren,
whether driving them on snowy paper routes, nursing them through illnesses, or
teaching them to cook—“You’ll use this skill your whole life,” she’d say.
Barbara cherished life’s simple pleasures: morning walks, crossword puzzles,
bargain-hunting for antiques, and breakfasts at Bob Evans or Cracker Barrel. Her
coffee was always black; her wit, always sharp. She worried endlessly about her
family’s safety—storm warnings prompted urgent texts—yet urged her grandchildren
to chase adventures while they could. Her humor—equal parts sass and
scandal—kept them laughing, even as she kept them grounded.
A woman of faith, she held close the words of Psalm 34:4: “I sought the Lord, and he
answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
In accordance with her wishes, Barbara was cremated privately. A memorial service
for immediate family will be held on March 29, 2025, in Kawkawlin, Michigan.
Her love, her lessons, and her fabulous one-liners will live on in the hearts of those
who knew her. To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com Arrangements made with the Cremation Society of Mid Michigan.
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