Thank you Charles Smith for helping put together this tribute to Jackie.  It was so nice to talk with you and fill in the past years.

Jackalyn (Jackie) Ruth Goss Smith was born December 1, 1944.  Her early years were spent in Culver City before her family moved to South Gate. She attended South Gate Junior and Senior High Schools.  She met Charles Smith (S'62) in junior high and they became sweethearts into high school and beyond!  Jackie had a lovely voice and was involved in our high school choir.  Her favorite memory was singing in the choir at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Tahoe, and both she and Charles had that honor!  She, Charles, Tom Sims (S'62), Rebecca Reed Harlan (S'62) and Beverly Taylor Hopper (S'62) were close friends in high school and those ties of friendship have remained throughout the years.

After graduation, Jackie went on to attend Cerritos Junior College, received her Bachelor's Degree from Loyola University Chicago, and eventually her Master's Degree in Education.  She and Charles were married October 3, 1970 and his career in the U. S. Army offered them an opportunity to "travel the world!"  They worked and lived in Oklahoma, Illinois, Alabama, North Carolina and Hawaii, as well as Germany, Korea, and Australia, putting Mr. Peterman's Geography class into a reality!  They were blessed with two children, Tashi, born in 1973, and Jacob, 1976.  It took a while for Jackie to obtain her Master's Degree in Education, but when she did, she very successfully put it to work in counselling and retired after 20 years from the Department of Defense as an Air Force Education Counselor, serving in Korea, Hawaii, and Arizona.  She and Charles eventually made their home in Peoria Arizona where he is living there today.

Jackie was an avid reader.  She also continued her love of singing and she and Charles were into barbershop chorus harmony:  Sweet Adelines, for Jackie, and Barbershop Quartet for Charles.  They also participated in musical theater while in Hawaii.  

Jackie and Charles celebrated their 53rd Wedding Anniversary in October, 2023.  They have a beautiful family of two children and seven grandchildren, six grandsons and one granddaughter.   The last five years of her life Jackie had dementia but she was able to stay at home with the loving care of Charles.  Sadly, she passed away December 22, 2023.  She is dearly missed by Charles, her loving family, and dear friends.  May you rest in peace dear Classmate.