IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Mary Jean
Smart
January 20, 1933 – May 11, 2016
Obituary
Mary Jean Ekdahl Smart, 83, of Pensacola, FL passed away Wednesday, May 11, 2016.
Karin Larson and John Ekdahl emigrated from Sweden, met and married in Chicago, where Karin gave birth to Mary. Twenty years later, Mary Jean married the love of her life, Bill Smart. The next year Mary earned straight A's, graduated from the University of Illinois, and gave birth to Patricia. Rebecca, Robert, William, and Deborah followed in the next nine years of the partnership. In 1962 Mary lost Violet, her older sister and best friend, and her brother-in-law Jerry Uram in a plane crash. Their children Ellen and Eric joined the family. Mary dedicated her life to her family, extended her empathy to the families of friends, and took an interest in all she met. In 1988 Bill and Mary moved to the Gulf Coast. They immersed themselves in the community, new friendships, and philanthropy. Mary was active in PEO, FavorHouse, and Impact 100. The Mary Ekdahl Smart Simulation Center at Pensacola State College, the Mary Ekdahl Smart endowed scholarship in health sciences, and an endowed chair Health Sciences were all founded by her husband in her honor. Family vacations and reunions bonded their scattered grandchildren. Mary's grandchildren enhanced her playful spirit and they shared major life decisions with her. Mary forged a second family at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church. Active in altar guild, she respected the privilege of preparing the church for services. In her seventies she completed a four year course in Education for Ministry.
She is predeceased by her husband and his twin brother Bob; both parents; and her sisters, Helen and Violet.
Mary is survived by her children, Patricia (Chicago), Rebecca (Drew Deutsch of Gig Harbor, WA), Robert (Pensacola), William (Diane of Western Springs, IL), Deborah (Gary Wren of Columbus, OH), Ellen (Steve Okonsky of Silver Springs, MD), and Eric (Deborah of Madison, WI); grandchildren, Hanna and Molly Deutsch, Alanna and Alexander Smart, Nicholas (fiancée, Carla Thomas), Matthew (fiancée, Emily Erickson), and Katherine Wren, Franklin Okonsky, and Jeremy Uram, and sisters Carol Pasbrig (Dousman, WI) and Susan Ragland (Dousman, WI).
Memorial Service will be held 11:00am Saturday, May 21, 2016 at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Gulf Breeze. Sow the seeds of grace, mercy, and curiosity. May she that soweth and she that reapeth rejoice together.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given in her name to St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 1 St. Francis Dr., Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 or FavorHouse of Northwest Florida, 2001 Blount St., Pensacola, FL, 32501 or WUWF Public Radio, The University of West Florida, 11000 University Pkwy.- Bldg 88, Pensacola, FL 32514.
Karin Larson and John Ekdahl emigrated from Sweden, met and married in Chicago, where Karin gave birth to Mary. Twenty years later, Mary Jean married the love of her life, Bill Smart. The next year Mary earned straight A's, graduated from the University of Illinois, and gave birth to Patricia. Rebecca, Robert, William, and Deborah followed in the next nine years of the partnership. In 1962 Mary lost Violet, her older sister and best friend, and her brother-in-law Jerry Uram in a plane crash. Their children Ellen and Eric joined the family. Mary dedicated her life to her family, extended her empathy to the families of friends, and took an interest in all she met. In 1988 Bill and Mary moved to the Gulf Coast. They immersed themselves in the community, new friendships, and philanthropy. Mary was active in PEO, FavorHouse, and Impact 100. The Mary Ekdahl Smart Simulation Center at Pensacola State College, the Mary Ekdahl Smart endowed scholarship in health sciences, and an endowed chair Health Sciences were all founded by her husband in her honor. Family vacations and reunions bonded their scattered grandchildren. Mary's grandchildren enhanced her playful spirit and they shared major life decisions with her. Mary forged a second family at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church. Active in altar guild, she respected the privilege of preparing the church for services. In her seventies she completed a four year course in Education for Ministry.
She is predeceased by her husband and his twin brother Bob; both parents; and her sisters, Helen and Violet.
Mary is survived by her children, Patricia (Chicago), Rebecca (Drew Deutsch of Gig Harbor, WA), Robert (Pensacola), William (Diane of Western Springs, IL), Deborah (Gary Wren of Columbus, OH), Ellen (Steve Okonsky of Silver Springs, MD), and Eric (Deborah of Madison, WI); grandchildren, Hanna and Molly Deutsch, Alanna and Alexander Smart, Nicholas (fiancée, Carla Thomas), Matthew (fiancée, Emily Erickson), and Katherine Wren, Franklin Okonsky, and Jeremy Uram, and sisters Carol Pasbrig (Dousman, WI) and Susan Ragland (Dousman, WI).
Memorial Service will be held 11:00am Saturday, May 21, 2016 at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Gulf Breeze. Sow the seeds of grace, mercy, and curiosity. May she that soweth and she that reapeth rejoice together.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given in her name to St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 1 St. Francis Dr., Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 or FavorHouse of Northwest Florida, 2001 Blount St., Pensacola, FL, 32501 or WUWF Public Radio, The University of West Florida, 11000 University Pkwy.- Bldg 88, Pensacola, FL 32514.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Jean Smart, please visit our flower store.
Services
Memorial Service
May
21
St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church
Starts at 11:00 am
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