Accompanied by music and with family by her side, Jeanette Smith Williamson, 90, died peacefully Monday, January 4, 2021 in Omaha, NE. The youngest of four children, Jeanette was born March 22, 1930 in Hillsboro, OH to the late William Albert "Bert" and Doris Barrett Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Billy James Williamson; brother, Ralph "Pat" Smith; sister Beverly Smith Fenner; and survived by sister Aileen Smith Githens. Her legacy includes five children: identical twin sons S Brandt (Beth) Williamson of Des Moines; J Brian (Jenal) Williamson of Mason, OH; three daughters: Jamey (Mark) Phillips of Springboro, OH; Jana (Mike) Helmuth of Seattle; Jewel (Rick) Schieuer of Omaha; eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. A lifelong student, ever eager to learn and equally happy to teach, Jeanette graduated Valedictorian of Marshall High School Class of 1948 and earned a B.S. Education degree with a special certificate in Home Economics at Wilmington College in 1952. She taught one year in Belfast, OH before marrying Billy, her childhood sweetheart, on September 21, 1952 at Marshall Methodist Church. Their first home was in Chicago where she was employed by the president of the AMA, Council of Foods and Nutrition as Research Assistant, Home Economist, while Billy completed his studies at Northwestern Medical School. They settled in Keokuk in 1957 where Jeanette managed Billy's private family medical practice while also giving her time and talents outside the home. Her home office was a multi-desk hub where she maintained meticulous records and stationed her ham radio equipment (essential to running the hospital's mock disaster drills), having installed a transmission tower outside her window overlooking the Mississippi River. Her nimble fingers, tapping on her IBM Selectric typewriter, generated a rhythmic staccato that resounded throughout the house. She taught herself the TRS-80 computer, first of its kind (her dot matrix printer added new office sounds) and later personal computers. She was thrilled to upgrade from her mimeograph machine to a color printer. Trips to the office supply and jewelry stores were equally enjoyable. She was an active and dedicated member of United Presbyterian Church of Keokuk, serving as elder and clerk of session and sharing her talents through worship and music. She also organized the annual food sale, her voluminous and detailed binder at the ready. Church luncheon meetings were officially opened only if it was recorded that Jeanette's banana salad had been served (which she eventually began serving by the punch bowl). Equally welcomed was her homemade ice cream, a recipe she refined during the family's bluff-side building of the horse barn and terraces. Her Better Homes and Gardens contest winning cranberry salad recipe was a staple at her beautifully appointed holiday table, set with fresh flowers and Dadant beeswax candles. In the kitchen, the hissing and jiggling of her pressure cooker was a familiar background duet. She made a simple sandwich a delight, served two vegetables at every dinner, and perfectly arranged her colorful fruit plates ("save that celery leaf for the garnish!"), achieving her goal of presentation without pretense. As reliable as her quick smile and congenial spirit, her natural inclinations toward efficiency and dependability led to her success in many spheres. Her volunteer service was welcomed throughout the community, including the boards for Keokuk Area Hospital, Keokuk Home Health Care, and YMCA. She was a master at multi-tasking (pleasure reading while watering terraces of roses to cut for home, office, and piano recitals and tomatoes and green beans to can, crocheting while watching school ball games, finishing meeting notes in her office before dinner while calling out to the kitchen "somebody stir the meat!") and beautifully balanced her home life with outside activities. She was an avid bridge player and golfer (two holes-in-one), active member of PEO for 50 years, founding member of Keokuk Amateur Radio Club (holding a lifetime license with call letters WB0LKT), helped bring driver's education into the high school via Mother's Study Club, a long term treasurer of Keokuk HS Band Boosters (ordering thousands of boxes of "band fruit"), world traveler (creating travelogues from her journals and photos), and celebrated seamstress (including Champion of the 4-H Dress Revue and designing and sewing her wedding gown and her children's dance costumes). Naturally gifted with an auto-tuned ear, music pervaded her life. She designed, arranged, and wrote musical programs, recorded in Nashville, taught herself bass guitar and orchestra bells, and played saxophone, clarinet, and piano. With her siblings and mother (Smith Family), and later with Billy and family friend Max (Banjonalities), performed regularly at churches and local venues. She was among the first women to join McNamara's Band (they needed a sax player). Many a jam session, band rehearsal, including corrective piano lesson calls of "B-flat!" were heard in the living room. Even her telephone and clothes dryer chimed a melody. A lifetime of putting others before herself, Jeanette cared for her immediate and extended family with unequaled selflessness, energy, and creativity. She gave her best in effort, time, and talent. Kindness, respect, and hospitality flowed effortlessly from her, never seeking the spotlight, pleased to help others succeed. She is best remembered by all for her sweet smile. We were blessed to have her in our lives. Visitation was held at the Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk on Friday, Jan 8, from 12:30 – 2 pm. A graveside service followed at 2:30 pm, Friday at the Keokuk National Cemetery.