JEAN HURLBURT SMITH

NEW HAVEN — Jean Smith, age 96, of New Haven passed away at her home Jan. 20, 2026, after a long life of service to her family and community.

Jean Avis Hurlburt Smith was born in Monkton July 24, 1929, to George and Rachael Hurlburt. She had an idyllic childhood growing up on their farm. She often told of playing with their pet woodchuck and hiking up the hill to Lost Pond to play. She spoke of enjoying the January thaws and freezes that allowed them to ice skate all the way to New Haven Junction.

She attended school in New Haven and told of her father bringing her by horse and sleigh when the roads weren’t plowed. Being a very studious child, she skipped a grade and graduated a year early in her class of six.

She went on to the University of Vermont to study music to become a teacher. During her collegiate summers, she had fun adventures with her jobs. One summer she went to Maine; for two summers, she went to Montana to work on a dude ranch, and another summer was spent working and living at the Dog Team Tavern.

After graduating from UVM, she taught music in Stowe.

In April of 1952, she married her high school sweetheart, Langdon Smith, shortly after he returned from serving in the Air Force in the Korean war. They moved in with her parents while Langdon worked with her father and brother on the family farm. By the fall of 1953, their oldest son was born, and things began to feel a little bit crowded. They began looking for a farm of their own. In the fall of 1954, they began renting a farm in New Haven. The house wasn’t in good enough shape to bring a family into, so they stayed in Monkton and added a daughter to their family.

In the spring of 1955, they moved to the Crest of Hill farm in New Haven, where they raised their family. Jean was very involved in the farm along with raising their children, and in 1956 welcomed child number three. An excellent cook, she kept busy cooking, loving the children, driving the tractor and lending a hand wherever she was needed. She was very involved with the New Haven Congregational church ladies’ group, helping with their dinners and bake sales. Child number four arrived in 1961.

In 1964, Jean and Langdon joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) and that became the center of their lives. That was also the year that they went from renting to owning their farm. In 1966 another child was born that completed their family. While Langdon served on the school board, Jean was involved in the school, helping wherever she could. Her children have fond memories of coming home to a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk.

Jean was actively involved in her church in helping others by providing help, especially with meals, for those in need. Even when she was no longer a member of the local Congregational church, she participated with them by cooking her remarkable rolls, bread and pies for their dinners.

She excitedly welcomed grandchildren and so enjoyed watching them grow and loved going and watching their activities, especially when they were involved in music. She spent countless, loving hours teaching her grandchildren to play the piano and violin. After they sold the cows in 1997, Jean and Langdon worked with a cell phone company to allow them to place cell phone antennas on one of their silos as the first cell silo site in Vermont.

With the cows gone, she wasn’t good at just sitting; even with a huge garden, she needed more opportunities to help others. She began to work with different care groups, helping, as she would say, “old people,” which she did into her late eighties. After Langdon passed, she would often ask her children why Heavenly Father has left her here. Those who were lucky enough to be around her knew that while it may have not been what she wanted, she was here for us.

She was the quintessential optimist. Her children would stop in and see her on some cold winter days and comment on how terribly cold it was outside and she would reply, “but the sun is shining and it’s so warm inside.” She always wore a smile and had a hug and kind words for everyone she met. She will be so missed by all who knew her, but she is once again reunited with her loving husband all those who have gone on before.

Jean is survived by her five children, Lanny (Cathy), Maralee, Mark (Kelly), Karen (Randy), and Steve (Erika); along with seven grandchildren, Rachael, Lance, Leslie, Lucas, Lindsey, Heather and Allishia; and 14 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, 11 a.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 133 Valley View Dr. Middlebury. ◊