Jean Ryker Smith

Family and friends will assemble at the graveside at the Charlotte Cemetery on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. for a graveside funeral service. Bro. Thomas Southerland will officiate. Place of rest will be in the Charlotte Cemetery. There will be no visitation prior to services.

Those desiring, memorials are suggested to the Care Fund of the Charlotte Cemetery.

Jean Carol Ryker Smith, age 93, of Charlotte, TN died peacefully April 23, 2026, at NHC in Dickson, TN.

Jean was born in Spokane, Washington on April 28, 1932, to the late James Arthur and Christa Martha Harris Ryker. She was preceded in death by her grandson Trent Armstrong and several brothers and sisters.

She was the widow of the late Robert Scott Smith. Their love affair began a long time ago at a church gathering in the Northwest part of the country.  After marrying and her graduation from nursing school, at the former Deaconess School of Nursing in Spokane, where she received her RN degree, they made their way east and settled in Charlotte, Tennessee in the 1950’s.  Robert died at the early age of 58 after being married to Jean for some 33 years.

After getting her Tennessee license, Jean started her professional nursing career with the Jackson Brothers, Dr. L. C. Jackson, Dr. William Jackson and Dr. Jimmy Jackson on Main Street in downtown Dickson and always stayed and worked with the Jacksons as she continued to nurse at the former Goodlark Hospital. She retired in 1995 after many years of service. She practiced nursing in the old days, freshly starched white dresses and caps, and was totally devoted to her profession and the patients she served. She proudly served her patients with kindness and professionalism.  Prior to retirement she had received the prestigious Frist Humanitarian Award twice for her excellence in nursing.

Even though she was born in the Northwest, upon settling in the South, she adapted very quickly to the southern way of life.  Jean was a class act of a southern lady with a sweet and caring spirit.  She always was willing to help her neighbors, her friends and anyone that needed her.

Jean was always about Charlotte, Tennessee. She loved her town and the people in it. She was a longtime member of the Water Street Church of Christ, where she was active as long as her health allowed. She would spend much of her time on their Meals on Wheels program delivering food to her friends that could not get out.

She loved her flowers and her gardening. She had an artistic side to her working with stained glass, watercolors and playing the piano. The Charlotte folks would always see her walking in her community, as she was an avid walker.

Survivors include her children, Dianne Armstrong and her husband Ralph of Charlotte, TN, Debbie Smith of Bellevue, TN, Jason Smith of Charlotte, TN and Barbara Payne and her husband Gary of Springfield, TN, her six grandchildren, Ryan Floyd, Shelby Floyd, Zackary Payne, Brody Payne and Marisa Payne, her two great- grandchildren, Knox Lee Armstrong and Maverick Lee Armstrong.