Janet Owens Smith, of Memphis, died on December 8, 2024. She was born in Newport Arkansas, the daughter of her late parents, Bernice Ferrell Owens and Thomas Edwin Owens. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her dear brother, Dr. Steven Edwin Owens.
She was a graduate of Newport High School, attended Cottey College and graduated from the University of Arkansas where she was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.
She married her high school sweetheart, taught school in Little Rock, and moved to Blytheville where they had two remarkable children, Ferrell Smith Marrs and Dr. Ron Smith, Jr.
Janet’s keen eye for design and esthetics played a key role in her family’s success in the hotel industry and later in life, she was an investor in a local Airbnb in Memphis where her design talents made it a sought-after destination for newlyweds and patrons of a nearby historic event venue.
In Blytheville, she was active in entertaining, and supporting causes dear to her heart, and was a visible booster of her children’s projects and talents.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, active in the Presbyterian Women, on the board of Presbyterian Christian Academy, and a faithful member of Chapter D PEO. After moving to Memphis, she continued to drive back to Blytheville to regularly attend PEO meetings and functions.
She was a philanthropist who supported the theater and was a passionate Board Member of the Blytheville Very Little Theater. She loved theater and movies and each year attempted to watch all the nominees for “Best Movie” before the Academy Awards. She excelled in tennis and bridge and cherished these activities with her good friends.
Her second act in life took place in Memphis where she was a dedicated member of St Phillip’s Episcopal Church. Janet was generous to her church and friends and provided scholarships for education and was a supporter of second chance programs for those returning from prison.
Janet had a striking fashion sense, and a wicked sense of humor and was a one-of-a-kind personality who will be loved and remembered by her family and friends forever.
She is survived by her son Dr. Ron Smith, Jr. (Kayla) of Jonesboro, and her daughter Ferrell Smith Marrs (Chad) of Sarasota, Florida. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Maezi Ferrell Marrs, Phillip “Sage” Marrs, Smith Christian Marrs, Margaret Theda Smith “Maggie”, Ronald Douglas Smith, III “Sackett”, Sophie Fritze, Hazel Bell Smith, Ruby Mae Smith and her nephew Dr. Thomas Owens.
A graveside service will be held in Newport, Arkansas on December 13th at 11:00 a.m. at Watson Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chapter D PEO of Blytheville or the Humane Society.
