Elizabeth June Smith
Elizabeth June Smith, 87, went home to be with her precious Lord and Savior on Friday, April 5, 2024. She was greeted at the gates by her beloved husband, John Smith; her brother, Dale Keeney; and her parents, Lillard and Edna Keeney who 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 and 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, and had three children – Crystal, Jonathan, and 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 and adults throughout Chattanooga and Pikeville. She also taught music at Dupont Elementary School and was the children's choir director at St Luke’s Methodist Church. June loved performing and was in several musicals at the Little Theatre in Chattanooga. To show her love and support for her children, June was either the PTA president or an officer and 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 and led 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 and then vice president of the Holston Conference United Methodist Women.
June excelled at everything she did.
June and John “retired” and moved to Pikeville, 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 three loving children – Crystal Hall, Jonathan Smith (Joyce), and Suzanna Ellis (Tom) – her grandchildren – Hunter Hall, Kalli Hall, Connor Ellis, Beth Demonbruen, Laura Ferebee, Robin Harrington, and Andrew Ellis- and her bonus great-grandchildren- Kailey, 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 10, from 4-7 p.m. and Thursday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. 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.