Jewell Giles Tester

On Friday, November 18, 2011, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jewell Giles Tester passed from this life. Jewell, known as Judy Giles Smith by her friends in Springdale and around Northwest Arkansas, was born and raised in the Clinton, Arkansas area on August 10, 1921. She was the youngest of four children born to James Edward Giles and Donnie Adeline Nelson. Her brothers, all of whom preceded her in death, were Perrin Giles of Spokane, Washington, Frank Giles of Kansas City, Missouri and Glen Giles of Dallas, Texas. After graduating from Clinton High School in 1939, Jewell began her career in the planning offices of the Southern Pacific Railroad based in Little Rock. Because there was another employee named Jewell already working in the same office, her supervisor gave her the nickname "Judy," a first name that she answered to for almost 60 years. In 1943 Judy moved to Dallas, Texas, and was one of the early employees of Braniff International Airlines, working for the company's President. It was in Texas that she met her first husband, the late William Bryant Smith of Belleville, Texas. The couple moved to Houston where they raised two children, Vicky Ann Sloan of Fayetteville and William S. Smith of Springdale. While raising her children, Judy also started working as a salesperson for World Book Encyclopedia. In 1964, Judy and her family moved to Springdale. She became the District Manager for World Book which was just beginning to be sold in Northwest Arkansas. It was in this position that she began to meet and make friends with so many people in this area. After successfully establishing World Book in the three county area, Judy then moved into the real estate business listing and selling homes, farms and other property. She was a member of the Million Dollar Club for many years. "Mom was born in the 1920's but was a truly modern woman" said Vicky. "She managed to raise Bill and me while working almost full-time. Had she been born now, there is no telling what she would have accomplished." Said Bill, "she wanted her kids to have a better life than she did. And she did whatever she needed to do for that to happen." In 1999, she became Jewell once again when she married Edwin Keith Tester, her childhood companion and best friend. They had grown up together in the valleys north of Clinton but not seen each other until she began to attend Clinton High School reunions. She moved to Memphis, Tennessee and lived happily with Keith until this year when her frailty and failing health made it necessary for her to return to Fayetteville for care. Her grandson Drew Sloan described his grandmother as "a kind and gracious woman who was always there for her family no matter what her sacrifice might entail. She was a rock of determination and dependability that we could all rely and rest upon in times of happiness, sadness, and everything in between." Said Bill, "Mom was a truly good and loving soul. She will be greatly missed." Jewell is survived by her husband Keith, her children Vicky and Bill, by her grandson Drew Sloan and his wife Alicia of Washington, D.C., and her cousins Barbara Gamache of Moxee, Washington and Byron Giles of Kansas City, Missouri. Jewell's ashes will be placed next to her father, Edward, in the Bluffton Cemetery north of Clinton and next to her mother Donnie, in the Belleville Cemetery, Belleville, Texas.