Elaine Lucille SmithAugust 19, 1936 – May 23, 2011 On May 23, 2011, the vivacious and eclectic Elaine Lucille Smith went to be with Jesus Christ, her savior and redeemer. Born August 19, 1936, Elaine is preceded in passing from this life by her loving parents, Harry Reed Jakes (1903 – 1979) and Blanche Evans Jakes (1901 – 1982), and her sisters, Dorothy Mae Jakes and Lee Ann Johnson. A "liberated sprite," Elaine strove for God, ultimately finding and being found by Him, though never abandoning her strongly independent nature. Married at 20, divorced by 25, Elaine had many close friends, prominent among which were Shelia Rosenthal of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and Louise Rexrode, of Monterey, Virginia. Elaine was a marvelous school teacher though she never enjoyed teaching as much as she did writing and drawing. In retirement she devoted herself to keeping personal notebooks, composing poetry and to caring for her animals, which she often sketched. She was mother to numerous dogs (Harveyetta [a.k.a. "Girlie"], Fee, Lizzie, and Winnie) and cats (Biggest, Fang, Leo Bai Kaiko, Dammit "Poo", and Tessie Gumby II). She once owned a wooly monkey named Betsy, later called Jo-Jo. At the ages of 55 and 62 she visited Llanelli, Wales, where she experienced a deep sense connection to her ancestral roots. She never lost her identification with her Welsh heritage, having studied the language as well as the country's culture and topography, not infrequently unfurling the Welsh colors. Elaine resided primarily in New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where she owned a country house named, in honor of her grandmother, "The Lizzie Ann." In the early 1990s Elaine became active in nearby Stockton Presbyterian Church in Stockton, NJ, holding the office of deaconess and diligently attending worship and bible studies. As her health began to decline, in 2004 Elaine moved to be with her family in Waco, Texas. Here she attended Trinity Lutheran Church, where a private service will be held for her on Sunday, June 12 at 11:45 AM; a similar service will be held for her in Stockton Presbyterian Church, Stockton, NJ, on or about August 14, 2011; for details about the services, please contact Trinity at Badger Ranch (254-772-4225) or Stockton Presbyterian Church (609-397-0130). Elaine's immediate surviving family is that of her son Alden and his wife Diane Smith of Waco, Texas. That family consists of several grandchildren: Katie, and husband Matt, Harry and fiancée Hannah, Ben, Rachel, Bayush, Sileshi, and Tarikwa. Elaine's generosity assisted with the adoption the youngest three from Ethiopia. Memorials may be dedicated to Fuzzy Friends Animal Rescue of Waco or Stockton Presbyterian Church. Condolences may be offered at Connally-Compton.com.Arrangements under the direction of Connally-Compton Funeral Directors, Waco, TX.