Jayne Marie Smead, 69, a vibrant spirit with a sharp mind and a kind heart, reunited with the love of her life just two weeks after his passing, leaving this world peacefully on March 30, 2025, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. She was with her two loving sons.

Born March 12, 1956, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jayne was the seventh of eight children of Jay John Donaghue and Pearl Dottie Donaghue. The Donaghue house was in Plymouth, Mn, on 8 acres of land. Plenty of room for the kids to roam. It was always filled with people and a lot of laughter. Jayne's brothers had an ice-skating rink for a few years and she loved skating on it. Jayne also helped her mother in the kitchen, learning how to make lefse among other things. It was a great home to grow up in.

Jayne grew from a free-spirted teenager into a confident, strong, intelligent woman with an incredible work ethic. She built a career as a successful accountant and didn't stop there. A double entrepreneur, she founded two businesses, including Smead Beads, a jewelry-making endeavor that allowed her to fuse her love for crafting with her eye for design. Jayne was consistently ahead of her time and she had a natural gift for technologies, always picking up on the next trend before the world caught on.

Jayne met Ronald Smead while she was working at Griswold's Coffee Company in her early twenties. A love that would define their lives, they were meant to be together. They were married on on May 9, 1981. After living a few years in upstate New York, and having their first child, they moved back to Plymouth, Minnesota, where they raised their sons, Rory Samuel Smead and Ryan Jay Smead.

Though her later years were marked by dementia, Jayne's life was full of joy, thanks in no small part to Ron, who devoted himself completely to her care. Disregarding the conventional wisdom that travel wasn't good for someone in her condition, he brought her everywhere—Minnesota, upstate New York, South Carolina, Florida—soaking up the sun, seeking warmer weather, and ensuring her days were filled with familiar voices, scenic views, and love.

Jayne was a woman of many passions. She adored music, especially the Beatles, whose records would be playing more evenings than not in the Smead household. During the summer days, you could expect to find Jayne relaxing with a book, sunbathing next to the pool, or perhaps gardening. At other times, she would be drinking coffee while hard at work at her next project or business idea. She also loved reading historical fiction, and watching movies–especially comedies, she enjoyed astrology and was curious about her family lineage.

Jayne is survived by her sons Rory and Ryan, daughter-in-law Laura Hansen Smead, and grandchildren Shaelyn and Corbin. She is also survived by her siblings Tom (Mary Lou), Leon (Linda), and Janet Peterson (Ron), as well as her lifelong friends Lorelei Davis and Mary Bauer. She joins in rest her beloved husband Ron, her parents, and her siblings Ken, Jean, Jerry, and John.

A memorial service will be held in Minnesota at a date to be announced. In the meantime, those who knew her are encouraged to sit in the sun, read a book, or just listen to a favorite Beatles song.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Alzheimer's Association in Jayne's name.