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Christine Cosbey Smith

3/10/49 – 7/23/16

Christy Smith was a loving Mother, Grandmother, Wife, Sister and Daughter who dedicated her life to the service of others, especially children. She passed away on July 23rd after a courageous battle with cancer.

Christy was born March 10, 1949 in Altadena, California to Jack and Marjorie Cosbey. She spent her childhood in Southern California, graduating in 1967 from Long Beach Polytechnic High School. She studied Nursing at Long Beach State College and worked as a nurse in Cardiology and Family Practice.

She married Tim Smith of Long Beach, California in 1970, and together they had two children: A son, Corey, and a daughter, Kelly. They remained happily married for 46 years.

Christy and Tim, with 6 week old Corey in tow, moved to Lake Tahoe in 1972, and spent the rest of their years in Northern Nevada. Once her children were both in school, Christy began working as a Teaching Assistant in Special Education at Zephyr Cove Elementary School, where she served for a decade. She then returned to nursing, working in a private clinic serving South Lake Tahoe’s low income community, then at Barton Memorial Hospital until she retired in 1999.

Shortly after her retirement, Christy’s grandson Bailey was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma. After 4 plus years of assisting the family during his long, and ultimately successful, battle, Christy developed a passion for helping to build awareness and raise research dollars for Childhood Cancer. For the past 12 years, she has been deeply involved in the efforts of the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and various other charitable organizations, as well as actively lobbying both State and Federal Legislators on the behalf of organizations dedicated to increasing government funding for Childhood Cancer Research.

Christy was also a very talented painter, and spent her retirement years expressing this talent. She had an exceptionally keen eye for color and texture, and consistently impressed her friends, family and the local art community with her work.

Christy was known throughout her life for her beautiful smile, her radiant and positive spirit, and her dedication to serving her community and the people she loved. She was exceptionally giving and caring, and will be deeply missed by so many of the people whose lives she touched.

Christy was preceded in death by her father, Jack Cosbey. She is survived by her husband, Tim Smith; her son Corey Smith; her daughter and son-in-law Kelly and Ron Johnson; and her three grandchildren, Bailey and Cameron Johnson and Alexandria Smith. She is also survived by her mother, Marjorie Cosbey, and her brothers and their spouses Craig and Kim Cosbey and Bruce and Lin Cosbey.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a more lasting tribute by making a donation in Christy’s memory to the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation:

3550 Barron Way, Suite 9A Reno, NV 89511 https://nvchildrenscancer.org/fundraisers/tribute-donation/

A Celebration of Christy’s Life will be held on Monday, August 8th, at 1:00 p.m. at The Supper Club at Genoa Lakes Golf Club: 1 Genoa Lakes Drive, Genoa NV 89411.


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