D. Jaye Smith, 85, of Independence, Missouri, died Thursday, March 12, at Rosewood Health and Rehab Center in Independence.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 27, at Sunset Hill Cemetery with Dr. Dan Lowry officiating.
She was born Aug. 27, 1929, in Buffalo, New York, the daughter of Fred B. and Sadie (McInnis) Davis.
She was united in marriage to L.E. Smith on April 16, 1988, in Leeton, Missouri.
For most of her life, Jaye was an active sportswoman: swimming, skating, bowling, fishing and equestrian. Early in her life her father built her an ice skating rink in the back yard so Jaye could follow her dream of becoming a figure skater. Jaye and her pairs partner took a silver medal at the Ice Skating Nationals and were the last to perform the extremely dangerous Couples Stag Jump in open competition. Jaye was an accomplished horsewoman under both English and Western tack. With the assistance of her late husband, she entered Specks, also known as “The Bird,” for his loud coloring, in shows throughout the Midwest. Her late husband, L.E. Smith, once said that when Specks and Jaye were on, they couldn’t be beat. They proved him right by winning the coveted Tri-State Tennessee Walking Horse Crown. In addition to walking horses, Jaye showed trotters, five gaited, hunter jumpers, barrel racers and sulky ponies during her lifetime.
Jaye had a green thumb when it came to growing flowers and nearly always had them in and around her home. She liked good food, fine wine, playing cards with friends and the quiet life of the country. To her family and friends, she was a city slicker by birth, but country by choice.
Jaye is survived by two sons, Bruce Moore, and wife, Linda, of Leeton; and Shawn Moore and wife, Xenia, of San Diego; one stepson, William Smith, and wife, Barb, of Leeton; two stepdaughters, Sharon Nussbaum, and husband, Bobby, of Leeton; and Mary Middleton and husband, James, of Topeka, Kansas; one granddaughter, Stephanie Moore, of San Diego; and several stepgrandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Groves Community Hospice, 15600 Woods Chapel Road, Kansas City, MO 64139, and can be left in care of Sweeney-Phillips and Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg.