Jacqueline "Jackie" Evelyn Smithey Cornelius

Jacqueline Cornelius, much-loved mother, Nana, and friend, went to be with her Savior, Jesus Christ, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010. She died peacefully in her sleep at home from cancer. Known as Jackie, she spent her lifetime thinking of others. Not only will she be missed by her loving family, but by all those around her.

Jackie was born in 1926 in El Paso, Texas to Paul and Emerald Kinne O'Toole Smithey. When she was 8 years old, her family moved to Moscow, Idaho where her parents ran a cafe and barber shop. She attended the University of Washington studying commercial art. Jackie and Eugene Lance where married in 1945 and moved to Columbia Falls where he helped construct the Hungry Horse Dam. Eugene preceded Jackie in death.

Jackie worked at Rocky Mountain Lumber and Plum Creek Lumber. She also worked as the Administrative Assistant at the Montana Veterans Home, retiring after 20 years. While living in Columbia Falls, Jackie and Eugene raised three daughters: Judy, Laurie and Mary.

Jackie married Harry Armstrong after moving to Whitefish. In 1970, she bought the old East Side Grocery Store. Harry's Music and Games plus the Montessori School were based there. Jackie was always a hard worker. She remodeled the building into four apartments, designing and building much of them herself. One apartment became her permanent home in the North. While "Snow Birding" 19 winters in Mesa, Arizona, she met and married Howard Cornelius. They had a second home there. They enjoyed golfing and traveling together. Howard preceded her in death in 2003.

She became Site Manager for the Whitefish Golden Agers (Senior Citizen's Center). She met many people through her work as she arranged Meals-On-Wheels and games like pinochle among other jobs there. She retired for the second time in 2007. Many people have said to us, "Your mother was the first person I met when I came to town and didn't know anyone. What a great friend Jackie was!"

Survivors include her brother, Retired Col. Paul C. and Virginia Smithey, Fla., daughters: Judy and Irwin Benner, Kalispell; Laurie and Dwayne Thramer, Columbia Falls; Mary and Marc Gallo, Seattle; and grandchildren Beth and Marilyn Bennett, and Brian and Greg Thramer.

A celebration of her life will be held on Jackie's birthday, April 3 at the Whitefish Golden Agers. Her family suggests donations be made to the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls in her memory.