It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mom, Jacquelyn Lea McKim, “Jackie, mom and Gram,” on April 3, 2024.
Jackie was born on Feb. 28, 1940, to Alec and Edna Carroll in Adna, Washington. She was their middle daughter, between her sisters Kathryn and Gail, who she cherished her entire life. She especially loved and admired her parents who instilled a lifelong sense of family in her that became the foundation for everything she did. She attended schools in Adna and had a deep love for that community throughout her lifetime, cheering them on in sports and spending as much time there as she could with old friends.
On Nov. 12, 1956, Jackie married her high school sweetheart, Tiny Smith. They made their home in Adna and together had four children, Cindy, Joni, Kristi and Greg. Tiny died in 1966 in a car accident, leaving her a widow with four small children. Over the years, mom said many, many times that it was her family that carried her through that time of her life. She remained very close to our dad’s family, especially his mother, Ruby Smith, and sister, Linda Smith Stewart.
Jackie went on to get her cosmetology license to support her family and was a hairdresser for over 40 years, making many friendships along the way.
In 1980, she married again to Tom McKim. Together they built a wonderful home in Shelton, Washington. Tom preceded her in death in 1999 after a courageous battle with lung cancer.
Jackie was a loving woman who loved family most of all. A close second was her love for sports, especially her Seahawks, Mariners and University of Washington Huskies. Her hobbies, other than watching ALL things sports, was crocheting, cooking and baking, especially her pies! She looked forward to “Spooners strawberries” every year and making strawberry jam. Her grandchildren will all remember afghans and stockings made by Gram.
Our mom had a profound impact on all of those she leaves behind. She is survived by her four children, Cindy Noel (Bob), Joni Baker (Jerry), Kristi Taylor (Tom) and Greg Smith (Lori); and her beloved sister, Kathryn Cox, of Chehalis. She was blessed with nine grandchildren, Shane Noel (Nicole), Shannon McVaugh (Scott), Alex Noel, Jacki Nelson (Geoff), Justin Lucero (April), Lindsy Brewington (Justin), Holli Smith, Josh Smith (Brittany) and Michael Smith; and great-grandchildren, Blake, Bradley and Bailey Noel, Maddie and Kaitlyn McVaugh, Cole, Cooper and Charlee Nelson, Elle Lucero, Elliott Brewington, Aiden Brewington, Callie and Ryder Patronaggio, Austin, Colby Raye, Beau, Emmalynn, Elliot and Barrett Smith. She was proud that we grew to “45” in our family!
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alec and Edna Carroll; her sister, Gail McKune; husband, Tiny Smith; mother-in-law, Ruby Smith; second husband, Tom McKim; and close friend and companion, Ron Richardson.
Jackie will be remembered as a loving mom and Gram to her grandkids and “greats” as she called them, sister, aunt and friend. Her family was everything to her, and her passing leaves a deep void for us all. As a family, we will gather strength from the same family foundation she instilled in each of us.
In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to either the Chehalis Foundation-Brian Cox Foundation Scholarship Fund or at P.O. Box 1608 Chehalis, Washington, 98532, or the ALS Foundation at als.org.
A graveside service will be held at noon Thursday, April 11, at Claquato Cemetery in Adna, Washington. Please join us afterwards for a reception at Berry Fields Café that she loved, owned by her grandson’s family, Shane and Nicole Noel and boys.
