Jeffrey Duane Smith was called home on March 18, 2026. Born September 9, 1951 in Chillicothe, OH, Jeff led a life of service, love of family, and devotion to God. We will miss him deeply but take comfort knowing he is at peace and whole once again.
Jeff grew up in rural Chillicothe with his parents and sister, Sharon. When he was just 16, his mother passed away from leukemia, which led to the development of an especially close relationship between Jeff and Sharon.
Jeff graduated from Southeastern High School where, among other things, he played basketball and cultivated a deep friendship with his coach and Coach’s family that continued through the end of Jeff’s life. Jeff graduated with a degree in Education from Ohio University, which he attended during a time of great tumult for the University and the nation. Toward the end of college, Jeff was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment to beat the disease, but the treatment that saved his life in the 1970s caused ongoing health issues that ultimately shortened his life.
Degree in hand, Jeff returned to Chillicothe to be close to family and begin his teaching career. Jeff taught for several years at the Union Scioto (“Unioto”) school district where he also coached junior high basketball.
In 1982, Jeff left teaching to serve as the first General Manager/Executive Director at First Capital Enterprises, a non-profit agency in Ross County that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Jeff was deeply committed to the mission of First Capital and, while there met the love of his life, Dona. They married in Chillicothe on August 13, 1983, to the great delight of their family and friends, especially Dona’s daughter Kelley whom Jeff loved dearly.
In 1988, Jeff and Dona launched a State Farm Insurance agency in Chillicothe and built the business from the ground up. Jeff’s devotion to understanding his client’s hopes and fears and supporting them through the best and worst times of their lives made him a trusted partner throughout his insurance career. In 1989, Jeff moved his agency to Portsmouth, OH, and he and Dona built their dream home on the banks of the Ohio River.
Jeff’s favorite times were with family and friends. Whether celebrating family birthdays, enjoying a good ham dinner on Sunday, relaxing at Hilton Head with friends, or reminiscing with family while enjoying a cup of coffee and a piece of pie, he was fully present. We loved seeing the sparks of humor between him and Dona.
Jeff was also devoted to God and was an active member of various churches. He and Dona most recently attended Second Presbyterian Church, where he had been an active member. He was a longtime member of the Portsmouth Kiwanis Club and past president of the Chillicothe Kiwanis Club. He had previously served on the boards of SOPAA and the Salvation Army, and he was a founding member and former treasurer of Connex.
Jeff is survived by his wife, Dona; daughter Kelley Crabtree of Durham, NC; son Bruce (Rhonda) Reiff of Lewis Center; granddaughters Nicole and Victoria Reiff of Lewis Center; his sister Sharon (Ron) Clary of Londonderry; and multiple nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who loved him dearly. He is preceded in death by his parents, Clyde E. ‘Jack’ and Nellie Irene Ball Smith; and his sisters, Patricia Garvic and Dixie Denney.
The family will welcome callers on Sunday, March 22, 2026, from 2 to 5 P.M. at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth, and on Monday, March 23 from 10 to 11 A.M. The funeral service will be at 11 A.M. on Monday , March 23, 2026, at the funeral home, with Rev. Allison T. Bauer officiating. Burial will be in the family plot at the cemetery at Concord Church in Ross County where he attended church as a child.
Memorials may be made to Sierra’s Haven for New & Used Pets, 80 Easter Dr. Portsmouth, OH 45662, and Second Presbyterian Church, 801 Waller St., Portsmouth, OH 45662.
