Elaine Marie Florence Smith

Elaine Marie Smith born March 2, 1951, in Berkeley, CA transitioned peacefully to her heavenly home on January 24, 2025, after a lengthy illness. 

Elaine retired from Alexander County Schools Food Nutrition where she loved her coworkers and the children she served. She will be remembered for her quick wit, tenacity, and selflessness, along with her love for food and cooking.

She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Jim Smith. Daughters, Michelle Hoots (Lee), Kelly Gwaltney, Jamie Davis (Steven) and Son, Jarred Smith (Joneliot).

Elaine was a fun-loving grandma to her grandchildren: Stephanie, Kimberlyn, Hannah, Malea, Evan, Adryan, Emery, Carsyn, Jackson, Jordan, Lilli, Riley, Mckenzie, and Connor and great grandchildren: Cameron, Mallory, and Valeri.

She will also be greatly missed by her brother, Mike Florence (Karen) and sister, Paula Matheson, along with first cousins in Missouri: Tom, Jerry, Joel, Nancy, and Patty, who are like siblings, and many nieces and nephews whom she cherished.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Billy and Pauline McAlpin, her sisters, Kimmie McAlpin and Debbie Pennell (Jimmy) and her brother, Bobby McAlpin.

Details for a Celebration of Life are being planned.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to PayPal: @laineysmemorialfund where all proceeds will provide necessities for children in the public school system that she so loved.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Alexander Funeral and Cremation Service.

Condolences may be sent to www.alexfuneralservice.com