Born: Jan. 12, 1930

Died: May 16, 2013

Jean Ann Smith Dunham, 83, passed away May 16, 2013 at Lovelace Hospice Hospital in Albuquerque, N.M.

Jean Ann was born Jan. 12, 1930 in Caryville, Tenn., to Bernice Baird Smith and Garrett Hobart Smith. She was the oldest of four daughters born to the Smiths. She was a graduate of Jacksboro High and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She also completed some graduate work at Northern Colorado University. She taught at Jellico High in Tennessee, Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., and Berrien Springs High School in Michigan.

On Aug. 25, 1954 she married Willis Clinton Dunham at the First Baptist Church in Jacksboro, Tenn. They made their home in Niles, Mich., for the next 52 years. To this union were born two children, Marnice Ann and Willis Clinton, Jr. Jean Ann and Will were among the founders of Bethel Baptist Church in Niles. Jean Ann was very active tin church and served as the pianist and organist. She also taught Sunday school classes, lead GA’s and Women Missionary Union groups. She also served on district and state levels for WMU and served as president for the state of Michigan for several years. She was honored as a 50-year state member. She also taught English as a second language to many and was much loved by her students. She also helped establish a children’s retreat at Bambi Lake and was a strong supporter of Hispanic missionary work.

Her husband, his parents her parents and her younger sister, Judith Bernice Eubank, preceded her in death. She is survived by her two children, Marnice Clark and Willis Clinton Dunham, Jr., both of Albuquerque; four granddaughters, Molly Clark and her partner, Jamie Skinner, Hannah Donoso Clark and her husband Fernando Donoso, all of Albuquerque, Kelsie Louise Dunham and Kinsie Jean Dunham of Dallas, Texas. She has one great granddaughter, Story Ann Rael. She is also survived by two sisters, Betty Sue Myers of Jefferson City, Mo., and Dr. Barbara Thompson of Kansis City, Mo. Many loving nephews and nieces also survive.

There will be a visitation on Tuesday, May 21 at 10 a.m. prior to her funeral celebration at 11 a.m. at Del Norte Baptist Church where she was been a member since moving to New Mexico. Burial will follow at the Memorial Cemetery in Santa Fe, N.M.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Del Norte Baptist Church, 5800 Montgomery Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, Genvita Hospice, 601 Martin Luther King Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 or Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico, 1011 Yale NE Albuquerque, NM 87106.