Jean (Higgy) Smelker, M.D.

Smelker, Jean Higgy M.D. Dec. 11, 1928 - Sept. 15, 2016 Physician and Fiber Artist, Jean Higgy Smelker M.D., MPH, age 87, of Falcon Heights, Minnesota passed away on September 15th, 2016. Jean attended schools within the Ohio State University, system from the age of 4 through her graduation from Medical School in 1955. (BS Bacteriology, MS Immunology, MD.) She earned an MPH from the University of Michigan in 1979. Her medical career began as a Pediatrician in Topeka, Kansas (1955-1967). She held positions in public health in Kansas, Minnesota and Ohio: Clinical Director of the Federal Children and Youth Project #641, Topeka, Kansas, 1967-1970; Well Child Clinic, Prairie Band Potawatomi Indian Nation, Mayetta, Kansas; Director of Community University Health Care Center and Federal Children and Youth Project # 602A, University of Minnesota; Full-time Asst. Professor, University of Minnesota, 1970-1987 (Pediatrics and School of Public Health 1970-1984; Behavioral Medicine, Pediatrics Division, Minneapolis Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics fellowship Behavioral Pediatrics 1985-1986 and Professor of Pediatrics/SPH thru 1987); Member of the Metropolitan Health Board, Health Sciences Representative, University of MN -1974-1983; The Director of Behavioral and Developmental Peds, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Faculty,Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 1987-1992. From childhood Jean was a lifelong fiber artist. She completed liturgical commissions for churches, seminaries and clergy in the USA and Canada, 1952-1991. She served as a member, organizer, conservator, lecturer and instructor in many local, national and international tapestry organizations. (She served as president of the American Tapestry Alliance 1996-1997; worked with a tapestry conservation team at the Mpls Institute of Arts, organized an international tapestry exhibition at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and was and instructor of tapestry workshops and lectured on "The Art of Tapestry" at the Wisconsin State Historical Society.) Preceded in death by husband, Edwin; and sister, Joan. She is survived by sisters, Jan and Joyce; son, Karl (Debby); and daughter Heidi; grandchildren, Isaac (Marit), Eliza and Nathan; and great-grand children, Brooks and Lane. A memorial to celebrate her life will be held at Saint Clement's Church, 901 Portland Ave, St Paul, MN 55101, on Monday, December 19th, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Memorials to St. Clement's Church or Doctors without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org).

Published on December 11, 2016