Raeona Johnson Smith passed peacefully in her sleep on May 1, 2018 after 44 years dealing with Multiple Sclerosis and suffering a broken hip from a fall near the end.

Raeona was born at home on January 16, 1933 in Smoot, Wyoming to Cora M Leavitt and Orson A Johnson. She was welcomed into the family joining two sisters and a brother. Two more sisters would follow.

Raeona was raised on the family ranch in Smoot Wyoming. She met the most handsome man, Joe LaDee Smith and fell deeply in love with him at first sight. After graduating from High School she worked in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for a year waiting for her true love to return home. After LaDee served his country in Korea, they were married on April 5, 1953 and later sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on April 8, 1954.

Raeona had a lot of heartbreak by not being able to carry children to term during pregnancy. She was able to only carry one child to term, a girl was born, Jolene. From that one daughter she was overly joyful of the five grandchildren that came into her life.

Before Raeona was diagnosed with MS she was active in church volley ball, loved to craft and knitting was a passion. She was very good at knitting and won many prizes in the county fair which thrilled her to pieces. She was always knitting and crocheting sweaters, afghans, and doll clothes for the grandchildren.

In July 1995, Raeona and LaDee moved to Centerville, Utah into a home that was connected to their daughter's home due to health problems. LaDee passed away five years later from Colon Cancer. His greatest fear was leaving his wife behind. His only wish was that she would continue to live in their home and have her daughter near to take care of her. Which she did until death.

Raeona was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and held many different positions before her health became a factor in doing so. For about the last four years she has been home bound and has not be able to attend church. So each Sunday she would listen to the BYU channel and have church in her own home from 9 to 5 each Sunday. The ward Priests would bring the sacrament each Sunday to her and she loved each one of those boys. She would talk about them all the time and always try to offer treats.

Raeona only had one vise, she loved candy. She was lucky that it never showed on her physically. She was always happy that she had a treat to give the great grandchildren when they came to visit. She loved every one of them. She never complained about her MS or the pain she was always in. She would pray for everyone she could think of. She was a compassionate, loving, comical, funny and a caring woman.

Raeona is preceded in death by her husband, Joe LaDee Smith, parents, brother LA Johnson, sister Venna Kennington Barrus, granddaughter Christy Jackson, and great granddaughter Ruby Jo Dolar. She is survived by her sisters Sherma Merritt, Ella Ann Spencer, Marie Kearl, daughter, Jolene Jackson, grandchildren Chantell Terrell, Nicla Dolar, Sheena Hess, Brandon Jackson, and Ashley Jackson and 15 great grandchildren. All loved her to the moon and back.

Funeral services will be held at the Porter Lane 1st Ward Chapel in Centerville, Utah located at 437 West Porter Lane (400 South) on Monday May 7th at 11:00 AM. A viewing will be held prior to the funeral for friends and family from 10:00 – 10:45 AM at the church.