Elizabeth June Smith
Elizabeth June Smith, 87, went home to be with her precious Lord & Savior on Friday, April 5, 2024. She was greeted at the gates by her beloved husband, John Smith; her brother, Dale Keeney; & her parents, Lillard & Edna Keeney whom all passed before her. We are sure that it was quite a happy reunion. Heaven is a much brighter place with this new angel!
Elizabeth June Smith was born on May 29, 1936 in Clinton, TN. She always went by her middle name of June which would sometimes become June Bug or Juney. Growing up, June loved sports & music. She was head majorette at both Clinton High School and Maryville College where she majored in Music.
After college June moved to Annapolis, MD to teach and to, in her words, “marry a Navy man.” Shortly after she arrived in Annapolis she walked into a church and saw a tall handsome man singing in the choir. She immediately announced to her friend, “That is the man I am going to marry!” and she did! On June 10, 1961, June married the love of her life John Byron Smith. June and John eventually settled in Chattanooga, TN & had 3 children – Crystal, Jonathan, & Suzanna.
Life was quite busy with these three, but June was not one to sit around and do nothing. While carting her three children to all of their many, many activities she honored her love of music by teaching piano to multiple children & adults throughout Chattanooga & Pikeville. She also taught music at Dupont Elementary School and was the Childrens Chior Director at St Luke’s Methodist Church. June loved performing & was in several musicals at the Little Theatre in Chattanooga. To show her love & support for her children, June was either the PTA President or an officer & attended every event they were in. And there were many! June was a staunch supporter of Bethel Bible Village and helped in the coordination of the Pat Boone Celebrity Golf Tournament for years. She also loved to play tennis and played in several tennis leagues.
June’s faith was always what drove her & lead her to become the President of Chattanooga Christian Women’s Club for many years. Later, she was elected as President of the Chattanooga District of the United Methodist Women & then Vice President of the Holston Conference United Methodist Women.
June excelled at everything she did.
June & John “retired” & moved to Pikeville, TN so that John could be a pastor of Mt Crest United Methodist Church. Of course, June became the choir director as well as the bible teacher.
Elizabeth June Keeney Smith was best known for her beautiful blue eyes, her pretty smile, her kind spirit mixed with a little feistiness. She will be greatly missed here on earth, but we know that she is in a much better place. We love you a bushel and a peck!
She is survived by her 3 loving children – Crystal Hall, Jonathan Smith (Joyce), & Suzanna Ellis (Tom) – her grandchildren – Hunter Hall, Kalli Hall, Connor Ellis, Beth Demonbruen, Laura Ferebee, Robin Harrington, and Andrew Ellis- and her bonus greatgrandchildrenKailey, Kassidy, Cody, Trenton, Preston, Carmen, Michael, Paul, and Luc.
Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 10th from 4-7 pm and Thursday, April 11th from 11 am to 12 pm at Chattanooga Funeral Home North Chapel, Hixson.
The funeral service will be at noon on Thursday in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Chattanooga National Cemetery, 1200 Bailey Avenue, Chattanooga.
Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory & Florist 423-698-2541