Sally Jane (Reeve-Tjarks) Smith |
| Posted 2018-10-17 by mhenderson |
| Published in Today's News-Herald on Sept. 30, 2018 - Lake Havasu City, Arizona - (personal article, page 7A) >> Sally Jane (Reeve-Tjarks) Smith << >> August 10, 1936 - July 26, 2018 << Sally passed away just 2 weeks before her 82 birthday. Sally was born in Grand Island, NE on August 10, 1936 to Melvin Koerner & Velta Verona (Jenkins) Reeve. As a teenager during her summers she worked as a swim instructor/lifeguard at Tribune-YMCA in Hastings, NB. She graduated from Hasting High School in 1955. This is where she met her first husband Glenn Edmund Tjarks. After high school she attended Hasting College and graduated from Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital School of X- ray Technicians. Glenn went to boot camp in San Diego, CA. After they were married in 1957, they moved to San Diego, CA, where Glenn was stationed for most of his 20 years in the Navy. Sally was a dedicated member of Navy Wives. They had three children, Thomas (passed at two days old), Katherine Jane and Lori Sue Tjarks. Sally worked as an X-ray Technician while raising her family. When her girls were attending Whitman Elementary School, she was the PTA Treasure and Halloween Carnival Chairman from 1967-1972. When Sally was a girl she was member of the Girl Scouts. Her brother James was also in Boy Scouts. Her family was very involved in Scouting. Their family vacation every summer was to the National Jamboree. She shared her experiences of scouting with her Daughters Kathy and Lori by being their Girl Scout Leader for six years. She was also the Cookie Chairman for San Diego area of Clairemont. Storing 1,000's of cookies for girls to deliver. In 1972, Sally and Glenn divorced. She continued to work in the medical field and raise her two daughters. She joined Parents Without Partners where she took a leading role in organizing monthly events. She loved camping and took her daughters often. In 1977 she met and married Ronald Wayne Smith. Last September they celebrated their 40th anniversary. They were both active members of the Kearney Mesa VFW Post #3788. Sally was a Life Member of the Women's Auxiliary. With several of their friends from the VFW they enjoyed camping and trips to the desert to ride their dune buggies, traveling and Charger Football games. In 1991, they both retired and moved to Lake Havasu City, AZ. While their new home was being built, they lived in their motorhome on the property, so Sally can keep an eye on everything that was being done. They continued to travel every summer for years. As in San Diego, Sally got involved in her new Lake Havasu community. She joined the Daughters of the America Revolution (DAR) Havasu Chapter in October of 1996. She held positions at the Chapter, State and National (NSDAR) levels. She has been the London Bridge Day Float Committee Co-Chair, DAR/SAR Liaison, Chapter Genealogy Records, Membership Chair, Librarian, DAR Magazine, Budget and Bylaws Committee, Chapter Achievement Awards, Programs Committee, Chairman, Chaplain, First Vice Regent, Chapter Regent and Honorary Regent. State Conference Special Events Co-Chair, Lineage Research Chairman, Volunteer Genealogist Vice Chair, President General's Project Chairman, Volunteer Genealogists Chairman, British/American Friendship Marker Lake Havasu Rededication. Chapter Development and Revitalization Commission Genealogy Vice Chair, Continental Congress Registration. She was a Level 1 (IGR) Certified Genealogist. She was credited with bringing 68 new members into DAR. She gave several programs about Family Lineage Research, Women's Issues, and Family heirlooms. The one program she loved to share was "The Journey of the Wedding Broach". The Wedding Broach has been worn on the wedding day of six generations of women in our family. Sally hosted several social and fundraising events. In May 2016, she received the ASDAR Community Service Award. Which was very hard to surprise her with, because she was on that committee too. She would say that doing family research was not a hobby, but an obsession. Her mother, two daughters, and three granddaughters were all members of DAR. Her home is filled with several old photos of family members and binders full of family research that goes back to the 1400's. Through DAR, Sally joined The National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century in 2009. She was State Librarian, Chapter President, Chapter Outreach Chairman and Chapter Name File Chairman. Her projects as Chapter President and Chapter Outreach Chairman had much to do with her community works and she always had a project for the chapter to work on. She was also a membership in Kiwanis Service Club for over twenty years, having served on its Board of Directors and as Treasurer. It has been her ongoing and enduring volunteer service within Caring For Havasuvians In Need-United Project or C.H.I.N.-U.P. and the Interagency Council in Lake Havasu that exemplifies to Sally's dedication and passion and desire to help others envision and attain a better life in their futures. Within the Interagency, Sally was in the thick of it all, providing constant guidance and support. Sally served on the board for 14 years and was an active and enthusiastic supporter of the different programs that Interagency oversees including the Food Bank, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, and Sally's Place, Lake Havasu's Domestic Violence Shelter for Women and child victims of domestic violence. A few year ago, she sought out and provided the shelter's residents with such things as pack n' plays for toddlers, computers for resident's usage, decorations for a happier holiday, clothing for interviews, cleaning supplies, health and beauty aids, games, coloring books, instructional materials and puzzles for the children, pots and pans and a "Seal-a- meal" food storage system. She would put together party bags with ingredients for birthday parties and family cookie-baking afternoons. Sally believed that although the shelter residents have endured difficult times, there is a constant need to give them hope for a different tomorrow. A small way to do this, is by promoting and enabling these simple, happy family times. In 2015, she began a new program: "Sally's Hope". Because she understood the overwhelming task that many of our resident's face in starting over "from scratch", she wanted to help them. Through "Sally's Hope" crock pots, flatware, dishes, glassware, bowls, etc., are available for those residents leaving the shelter that may need these items to prepare and serve their first meals in their new homes. Sometimes, residents also take a "Sally's Hope" cookbook or basic recipes with them as well! "If there is anything else that you need, just let me know and I will see what I can do to get it for you" was how she usually left her meetings at Interagency and they report she never let them down, not once! She is described by them as, "Truly a blessing to many, most of which she never met, and yet, she continued to do for them. What a role model of selfless service she was to our community." She would tell us that she had "helium hand". Any time someone would ask for a volunteer, her hand would just rise up. In DAR her theme was "Service to the Community". She lived by that theme everyday. Always wanting to help others. She will be greatly missed by so many! Survived by her husband Ronald Smith, sister Sharon Slater, her daughters Katherine (Tjarks) St. Onge, Lori (Tjarks) Moorhead and spouse Mitch Moorhead. Her granddaughters Danielle St. Onge, Lindsey Moorhead and Makayla Moorhead, step-son Ronnie Smith, step-daughters Janet Smith and spouse Irma, Cynthia Smith and spouse Diana, step-grandchildren Stephanie Knobbs, Ethan and Richard Staton, and Deidra and Marissa Smith. Preceded in death by her son Thomas Tjarks, her parents Melvin Reeve and Verona (Jenkins) Reeve, her brother James and spouse Alice (Roth) Reeve, sister Sondra (Reeve) Schwartman and step-daughter Odette Smith. |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
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