Wanda Jean Howe Smith, 97, of Edmond, was born on April 25, 1927 to William Earl Cline and Cora Mae (Hatfield) Myers in Lockridge, Oklahoma and passed from this life on November 11, 2024 in Edmond, Oklahoma.

On January 18, 1945, she was married to William Louis Howe, they resided in Yakima, Washington for two years. They then moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma, and for the next few years, resided in several Oklahoma communities as he worked in the oilfield. This business brought them to Woodward in 1958, and in the early 60's he started Howe's Refrigeration. As he was building his company, Jean was starting her own. She opened Howe's Art Gallery, Framing and Arts Supplies, in the very same building that her husband ran his company. Both businesses were very successful, as Jean was quite an artist herself, and 65 years later, Howe's Refrigeration is still in business! These truly were "family businesses" — as their son, Wayne and daughter-in-law, Toni also worked with them! Jean and Bill retired in the 80's and enjoyed traveling together in their RV.

Mr. Howe passed away on December 1, 1991.

In September of 1997, Jean married Emmette Smith and they traveled to several very special places. Mr. Smith passed away in 2010. Jean moved to Edmond in 2013, and lived at Tealridge Retirement Home. She made lots of new friends and enjoyed all the activities provided such as crafts, games, bus trips to various places, etc. She loved to read and always had her reader beside her chair.

She had a very special relationship with her granddaughter, Julie, who also lives in Edmond. They spent hours together and Julie was "always there" for her.

Besides her two husbands, Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Dora Lue, and two grandsons, Brad and Mark.

She is survived by three sons and their wives, Cliff and Susie of Wake Forest, North Carolina; Kevin and Connie of Dallas, Texas; Wayne and Toni of Woodward; grandchildren: Jaci, Michael, Natalie, Julie, Jessica, and Scott; great-grandchildren: Wynter, Crystal, Jozey, twins, Kate and Emma, Kinsley, Madison, Xander, Bryson, Ryder, twins, Maysen and Layla; great-great-grandchildren: Sapphire and Shane (to be born next month); one brother, Jack and wife Jody and their children, Brandon and David.

Jean is also survived by Emmette's children: Becky Smith, Tanya and Mimi Smith all of Burnsville, Minnesota; Phil and Irene Smith of Trophy Club, Texas; and grandchildren, Emmette, Hayden, Phillip, and Avery.

In accordance with her wishes, cremation services have been preformed and Jean will be laid to rest with her husband Bill in Elmwood Cemetery. Graveside services will be held on Monday, November 18, 2024 at 1:30 pm.

Remembrances may be shared online at www.billingsfuneralhomewoodward.com