Juanita L Smith

Juanita Louisa Santos Smith?s Life?? Juanita was born to Gladys Mc Clarelea (adopted name) and Arthur Santos Sr. on January 7th 1920. She had one brother Arthur Jr. who resides in Oregon. All though her parents were migrant farm workers and moved many times during the school year she earned straight A?s and was moved ahead two grades and graduated at 16 years of age from Monterey High School. She worked her way through high school as a nanny for a doctor in Pebble Beach and a model for an artist in Monterey. In 1937 she married Daniel A Smith who had just moved west from Ohio to join his brother Curt. They soon had a son Daniel Smith Jr. in 1938, a daughter Darlene Smith in 1940, a daughter Kathleen Smith in 1943 and a daughter Theresa Smith in 1956 Juanita was one of the first business women in the town of Marina. She owned and operated a Chicken farm in Marina and a Pet Shop on Lighthouse Ave, New Monterey; she was also a dog breeder and had one of the largest kennels on the peninsula. She later went on to earn her real estate license, Dental Assisting License and AA in college in her late 60?s. She was always learning. She worked well into age 70 as a hotel clerk on the midnight shift. Juanita had a great wonder for life. She wanted to try everything and go everywhere. There was nothing that didn?t amaze her. She was a top notch bowler and she and our Dad would travel to be in tournaments, winning many. She loved to dance and she and our Dad took lessons from Larry Peligrini and became marvelous dancers. We would move the furniture every night so they could practice to their favorite music, while we sat on pillows and marveled at their dance moves. New Years Eve was her favorite night and she had many good stories of adventures lived on those nights. Juanita loved her family and enjoyed spending her time with each of us. Every Sunday we would take a drive with the family, sometimes in three or four cars or have BBQ?s at each other?s houses. We camped everywhere we went, because my Dad didn?t like paying for hotels! She took great pride in always traveling to a new grand baby?s home to help the new mother when they were born, she would stay and care for each one so she could bond with them. Many of us learned how to care for babies from our Mother and Grandmother Juanita. Mom always taught us about everything, names of all the flowers, animal behavior, people behavior, how things worked. There was nothing that our Mom didn?t know! She only needed a few hours of sleep a night so sometimes we would wake up to a newly wallpapered room, an outfit hanging on our door that she made, or the furniture reupholstered. There was never a dull moment with our Mom. She passed on to us her strength, her business sense, her respect for her spouse and her love of animals. Juanita suffered a stroke in 2000 and with that came to onset of Alzheimer?s. She lived with Theresa for a short while and then with Kathleen for a couple of years and finally went to live with Darlene. She spent her last years in a Grass valley Convalescent home where they took wonderful care of her. Our Mother decided to go home to be with the Lord on June 26, 2012, just like that! We were all able to go to be with her and to love her, say our goodbyes, speak our apologies and words of gratitude. We were privileged to hold her hand as she peacefully took her last breath. She passed just as she lived her life?. Very gracefully! Juanita is survived by her son Daniel Smith Jr. ( Bonnie), daughters, Darlene Swindle ( JC),,Theresa Ream ( Terry), Grandchildren. Lisa Jewell Brown (Doug), Julie White ( Bob), Glen Swindle, Daniel Smith 3rd ( Christine), , Alexandra Espino( Danny), Gracie Lopez (Jonathan), Casey Ream( Heather), Amanda Ream ( Cody), Great Grandchildren , Daniel Montanez (Katie), Bobby White, Jessica Cooke ( Dan), Joey Brown, Antonio Espino, JT White, Thomas Espino David Smith, Rebecca Smith, Sarah Smith, Cash Ream, Indie Crumpton, Alissa Newton and Matthew Newton, Great- Great Grandchildren, Vincent Cooke and Isabella Kathleen. Thank you Mom for pouring yourself into us and we will be with you again.