Ellen Jane Smith-Jensen, age 99 of Bowling Green, passed away Tuesday May 5, 2009 at the Maple Grove Lodge in Louisiana.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday May 9, at the Edgewood Baptist Church, south of Bowling Green.  Rev. Gary Allum, Rev. Keith Barnhart and Rev. Lee Hartley will be officiating. Granddaughter Caitlyn Colbert will be accompanied by Janice Griffith for the music. Burial will be in the Antioch Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 until 8 pm on Friday at the Mudd-Veach Funeral Home in Bowling Green.

She was born at the family farm near Curryville on February 28, 1910, the daughter of Charles W. and Cora Leone Day-Smith and was the third child in a family of seven.  She married Price Penn Jensen on December 30, 1930 and to this union three children were born; Bobby Penn, Doris (Robert) Cadwallader-Turpin of Louisiana and Bonnie (Paul) Stone of Clarksville.

Survivors include her two daughters; eight grandchildren, Jeanette Benisek of Westmont, IL, Barbara Colbert and husband Clifford of Clarksville, Terri Engelbart and husband David of St. Charles, Keith Stone and wife Shonda of Lake St. Louis, Lisa Monsees and husband Rob of Columbia, Gail Smith and husband Jerry, Nancy Geeson and husband Ray, and David Cadwallader and wife Viki, all of Louisiana;  eighteen great-grandchildren,  John, Brett and Michelle Benisek, Steven Ince and wife Bryca, Marla Geeson, Brendan, Schyler, Brooklyn, and Julianna Cadwallader,  Chris and Caitlyn Colbert, Matt and Michelle Engelbart,  Andrew and Shelby Stone,  Mattie, Jake and Grace Monsees; and two great-great grandchildren, Lauren and Lanee Ince, all of whom affectionately called her “Muh.” A large number of nieces and nephews, who were very dear to her also survive.   

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Bobby and grandson Robert Joseph Cadwallader.  Six siblings:  Vergia Wright, Myrta Bess Turner, Opal Hobbs, Charlotte Hobbs, Charles Day Smith, Maurine Wendt;  two sister-in-laws  Pauline Jensen Gaw and Myrtle Jensen Bibb. 

Mrs. Jensen was a well known and highly respected school teacher for 34 years.  Her teaching career began in Excelsior, a one room school house near Bowling Green where she taught for two years.  She taught at eagle Point rural school near Cyrene for seven years, Eolia-Clopton elementary for seven years and Bowling Middle and High School for 18 years, where she taught art.  She was very involved in all phases of school and church activities, not only as a teacher, but as a mom when her children were growing up.

She was a member of numerous clubs and organizations in the communities where she lived.  She graduated from Bowling Green High School with the class of 1928 and was the last know survivor of the class.  She received her BS degree in elementary and secondary education with a minor in art from the University of Missouri in Columbia. 

She was a Baptist by faith and was an active and faithful member of Edgewood Baptist Church most of her adult life when she retired and she and her husband moved to Bowling Green.  At the time of her death she was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Bowling Green and served there as long as her health permitted. 

Ellen loved to travel and write poetry. 

Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons and grandsons-in-law, Keith Stone, David Cadwallader, Clifford Colbert, David Engelbart,  Rob Monsees,  Jerry Smith and Ray Geeson. 

Donations may be made to the Pike County Hospice, Immanuel Baptist Church, or the Donor’s Choice.