Obituary
SMITH-JOHNSON
Jeanette “Jan” Elizabeth Smith-Johnson was born in Fort Lauderdale in 1958. Ray and Hilda Smith took the family on road trips across the US, and tours of Europe and Asia that instilled in her a passion for travel. Sharing that passion with family and friends was Jan’s favorite hobby and the inspiration for two careers, first as a Flight Attendant for Braniff, Piedmont and USAir; and later as a Sales Executive for Hilton Grand Vacations Club.
But her proudest accomplishment, truly her legacy, is the family that she built, an ohana that spans oceans. She is survived by her wife Kim, sons James and Harrison, step-children Justin, Jordan, Chelsea and Courtney, granddaughter Matilda, and a village of family and friends whose lives she touched.
Jan lived years in North Carolina, Utah and Hawaii, but Florida was the home to which she returned, time and again. Her houses were always open, a retreat for family and friends to feel the love and celebrate life together. Her neighbors, coworkers and clients became lifelong friends and travel companions for summer vacations to the Bahamas and Europe, and weekend getaways to New York or Nashville.
Her presence made ordinary moments extraordinary. She didn’t hesitate to create a gourmet meal in a rolling galley kitchen, or cut down the Christmas tree that seemed way too big. Missing the flight home was an opportunity for a road trip adventure. Her spirit radiated positivity that could be felt thousands of miles away.
She refused to be slowed by a series of health issues in her final years. A lifelong runner, she chose to finish with a sprint. She found new love with Kim. They traveled the world together,
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