Jane Smedley

Jane Smedley passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. She was surrounded by her loving family, with nurses attending to her needs. She is now free from the illness that plagued her life and happy to be without pain. Jane is with her Heavenly Father and her earthly father, John Rodney Smedley. Jane was born on October 4, 1999 in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the University of Utah hospital. Anticipating her congenital heart condition, medical professionals sent her mother, Jynnae, to Utah on a helicopter, so that Jane would have access to needed medical expertise. At 4 days old, Jane received her first of three open heart surgeries, at the hands of capable and compassionate surgeons. She recovered and grew for a month at Primary Childrens Hospital until she was able to come home to Chubbuck and to her three older siblings. Jane had another open-heart surgery at 6 months, a stomach surgery at 14 months and open heart again at 2 1/2 years old. She underwent several other minor surgeries and spent many days at Primary Childrens Hospital for surgical recovery and medical appointments. She and her family were always grateful for the miracles performed by medical professionals on her behalf, as well as Primary Childrens loving and supportive atmosphere. Despite her physical difficulties, Jane grew and enjoyed life with her parents and siblings in Chubbuck, Idaho. Jane always had an enthusiasm for life and demonstrated her talents early. She had a love of music. She was the youngest in the family to carry a tune and loved singing. She could make a rhyming "rap" on the fly. Jane was a natural actress and amused her family and friends with her creative plays. She wanted to entertain. You knew if Jane felt well because the Smedley home was noticeably louder on those days. Jane also loved to write childrens stories as an outlet for her highly developed imagination. She loved interior decorating and hoped to make that field her profession. School was a challenge for Jane, due to sick day absences. But she always worked hard to complete assignments. Her teachers and administrators were always supportive and helpful. Jane attended Tyhee Elementary, Hawthorne Middle School and Highland High School, where she graduated in 2018. Jane, somewhat of a perfectionist, loved to clean and organize. She enjoyed retro clothing styles. Perhaps her greatest love was for children. She was drawn to them, and they to her. Her highly developed imagination helped her relate to them on their level. She especially loved caring for babies and was able to work for a time in day care and as a nanny. Janes relationships with family and friends were the light in her life. She loved easily and completely. Her parents and 5 siblings delighted in their time together. Jane was 14 when her father passed away in October 2014. She missed his fun and loving presence. After high school, Jane was able to receive a drivers license, buy a car, work a little as a nanny and even rented a small home for a time. Her health continued to decline, limiting her activities. Her family and best friends supported her. In January 2020, she suffered arterial blood clots, further damaging her weakened heart. Jane entered into hospice care in June 2020. Her valiant heart finally stopped beating almost six months later, on December 8. Jane was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Her faith was inspiring and never wavered. She was thrilled to receive her temple endowment in September. In her deepest pain, she often strengthened her caring family and friends with her optimistic statement of faith: "I know Heavenly Father has a plan for me". Jane is survived by her mother, Jynnae Smedley and her siblings Mitchell, Karlie, Jackson, Clarissa, and Ella May Smedley, all of Chubbuck, Idaho. She is survived by her grandmother, LaNae Dye of Chubbuck and grandparents Thayne and Ellen Smedley of South Jordan, Utah, as well as many uncles, aunts, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, John Rodney Smedley, by grandfathers Joseph D Millward and Dennis M Dye, and her cousin, Griffin Millward. The family wishes to thank the many medical professionals that extended and enriched Janes life. These include the doctors and staff at Pocatello Childrens Clinic and Portneuf Medical Center, Primary Childrens, and University of Utah Hospital and most recently, the compassionate and able team at Encompass Hospice services. We thank Janes educators and her many friends for their great support and care for Jane. Jane and her family are grateful for every kind gesture extended to them by so many dear friends. Private services will be held on Monday, December 14 with a public burial at the Inkom Cemetery on Monday, December 14 around 1 pm.

Private Services





Inkom Cemetery



Inkom

Idaho

83245