Martha Jean Smith

Asheville Martha Jean Norton Smith, went to be with Jesus and her loved ones in Heaven on January 6, 2014. Born in Madison County on April 12, 1935, her family moved to Asheville in 1948. She was the daughter of the late Grover Carl Norton and Elizabeth Norton Rucker. Jean was a member of Clayton Avenue Free Will Baptist Church where she taught a childrens Sunday school class for many years. She was a woman of many talents and could sew or make most anything. Her talents and hobbies included dressing dolls, needle work and quilting. She worked for Iveys/Dillards and retired from there in 1978. She then worked at Mars White Knight. She later stayed home to care for her ailing mother, giving her the love and devotion she needed. She was married to Hubert Glenn Smith on November 20, 1954. They recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. She was the love of his life. Together they lovingly raised 3 children, Janet Lynn Ownbey, Pamela Kay Smith and Terry Glenn Smith (Debbie). She was known as Nana to Bryan Stewart (Laura), Stephanie Stewart McClellan (Shawn), Tommy Ownbey (Angela), Crystal Stephenson and Kyle Smith. There are 5 great grandsons Kamron, Dylan, Jason, Griffin and Owen and two great granddaughters, Morgan and Erin. She is also survived by a sister and two brothers. She has many nieces and nephews. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and enjoyed her special niece, Donna Tipton on many events. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Thursday, January 9, 2014 in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home with Revs. Bob Fox and Enoch Ball, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Bowman-Rector Cemetery, Madison County. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. A special thanks to Jenny Gragg, Kathryn Gunn, Victoria Frierson and Dr. John Langlois for their dedication and hard work from CarePartners-Hospice.