Jill Gast Smith May 12, 1951 - January 7, 2015

Jill was born Jill Ann Gast in Pontiac, Michigan, on May 12, 1951, to Margaret and Bennett Gast.

Jill moved to Whittier, California, in 1955. Jill attended Cal high in Whittier, graduating in 1969. She tried her hand at a variety of jobs, but from the time she was 18 she was never without a job, a fact she was proud of. She finally settled into an office position in a recycle facility in South El Monte, California, a position that lasted from 1973 to 1988.

In 1985, she met Richard Smith and a relationship began that lasted almost 30 years. They wed in 1999.

Jill decided she wanted to do more with her life, so in 1988 she entered a paralegal school, which she excelled at, earning the highest grades of any of the students in her class. Jill became a paralegal in early 1989 and remained one until 2007.

Unfortunately Jill was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2005, and after multiple surgeries and hard as she tried, she could no longer handle the requirements of the job.

Now, with the end in sight, Jill wanted a change of scenery and picked Sisters, Oregon, to complete her life. Jill and Richard moved to Sisters in 2007, where Jill amassed an amazing amount of friends, one of her great qualities. Jill volunteered at the Sister Area Chamber of Commerce for several years until her health declined.

Jill was blessed by a granddaughter, Malia, in June of last year. Jill was so proud to be a grandmother.

Recently her health was failing and a new cancer developed and she no longer was strong enough to continue the fight. Jill fought strongly until the very end.

Jill was predeceased by her parents. Jill is survived by her husband, Richard; her two brothers, Michael of Winnemucca, Nevada and Kevin of Whittier, California. Also four nieces: Nichole, Katie, Holly and Meg; and one nephew, Ben. In addition, Jason, her stepson and Jason's daughter Malia reside in Placentia, California.

Jill's service will be January 17 at 11 a.m. at Westside Church in Sisters, and she will be interred in the Camp Polk cemetery among the trees she so dearly loved. All that loved Jill are invited. Jill was one of God's greatest gifts to us.