Life time Helena resident, Jack Maurice Smith, passed away on July 8 at St. Peter\u2019s Hospital following a recent illness. Jack was born on March 8, 1926 to Edith Grace German and Robley Smith and grew up in Helena\u2019s 6th ward, attending Bryant School and graduating from Helena High School in 1943.<\/p>\n
Jack served our country in the United States Army during World War II. He fought in the Philippines and was a member of the Occupational Forces in Japan.<\/p>\n
On September 11, 1948, Jack married Wanda Lucille Robertson in Malta, Montana. From this union, 4 children were born, Sharon, Debra, Cindy and Brett. Wanda passed away in April of 1979. Jack remarried on November 20, 1982 to Joyce Bailey Glineski, also of Helena. As Jack always said, he was truly blessed in his life to have been loved by two amazing and wonderful women.<\/p>\n
After his service in the military, Jack attended Carroll College and the University of Montana Missoula. He then returned to Helena and opened the Tower Texaco service station on the corner of 11th and Roberts in 1950.<\/p>\n
In 1965, he started Montana General Credit, a home based business. Jack sold Tower Texaco in 1968 and then worked a short time at United Building Center before finishing his career with the State of Montana and retiring in 1978.<\/p>\n
Jack and family had various rentals and did property remodels, including the conversion of the family\u2019s restaurant, The Park Caf\u00e9, on Railroad Avenue into a 4-plex. Jack\u2019s family enjoyed \u2018The Cabin\u2019 they built on Canyon Ferry Lake, where together they spent years with both family and friends.<\/p>\n
Using Jack\u2019s extensive building expertise and carpentry skills, Jack and Joyce constructed their dream home on Canyon Ferry Road. Jack always had a project to work on around the house; his \u201cto-do\u201d list was ever growing. He also spent quality time with the 1943 Helena High reunion group, meeting each month at Perkins Restaurant.<\/p>\n
Jack had many names in his life, including Son, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Nephew, Uncle, Cousin, and Great Grandpa. He was a strong, talented, gentle giant who always had a kind word and believed each day should be lived to its fullest. He loved a good joke and was a great jokester himself, who was fondly nicknamed \u201cBig Daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Wanda, and his daughter, Sharon.<\/p>\n
He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce; daughter, Debra Smith of Charlotte NC; daughter Cindy Eccleston (Gary) of Charlotte, NC and formerly of Dillon, MT; son Brett Smith (Sharon) of Lugoff, SC; brother Guy Stoner (Mary Jo) of Elliston, MT; grandchildren Amy Eccleston, Sarah Eccleston Anderson (Russ), Beth Evans (Rob), Lynn Manuel (Anthony), 4 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.<\/p>\n
A Funeral service will be held Tuesday, July 12 at 11:00 am at Retz Funeral Home Chapel, 315 6th Avenue. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Forestvale Cemetery in Helena. A reception-luncheon will follow the burial service. Memorials may be sent to: The Disabled America Veterans, Ft. Harrison, MT 59636; The Lewis and Clark Humane Society, 2112 E Custer Ave., Helena, MT 59601; or to the charity of the donor\u2019s choice. To offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Jack, please visit www.retzfuneralhome.com.<\/p>\n","photo":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/1204875.jpg","youtube_video_url":"","family_email":"","family_first_name":"","family_last_name":"","event_title5":"","event_date5":"","start_time5":"","end_time5":"","location5":"","address5":"","city5":"","state5":"","zipcode5":"","event_title6":"","event_date":"","start_time6":"","end_time6":"","location6":"","address6":"","city6":"","state6":"","zipcode6":"","event_title7":"","event_date7":"","start_time7":"","end_time7":"","location7":"","address7":"","city7":"","state7":"","zipcode7":"","event_title8":"","event_date8":"","start_time8":"","end_time8":"","location8":"","address8":"","city8":"","state8":"","zipcode8":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case\/23340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/case"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}