Obituary: Crissie Smith

Born to Edgar and Louise Reed in Cortez, Colo., on March 1, 1925, she was the youngest of five children. Crissie was very proud of being a descendant of the early settlers of Colorado.
Both grandfathers rode by horseback to southern Colorado where they began their new lives. Louise Hammond and Edgar Reed started their families out in the country. One of Crissie’s favorite stories to tell was when her father made moonshine during the Depression to support the family. When she was about 5-years-old Crissie and her mother were the lookout for the revenuers. They would jump on the old mare named Molly and ride over to tell her dad to shut the still down.
Back in those days going to school was not a priority. Crissie and her siblings were taught by their mother who was a school teacher. Through the years they farmed and mined, finally ending up in Disappointment Valley.
Crissie met a handsome sailor named Edward (Red) Stanley Smith. In June 1943, they got married in Aztec, N.M., soon making their home in the Nucla/Naturita area. “Red” and Crissie had two children, Paula Smith Yardley and Rodney Smith. Crissie lost her beloved “Red” from lung cancer on March 1, 1967. She worked at many jobs to support and raise her young son.
One of Crissie’s greatest accomplishments was receiving her GED at the ago of 60. After many years of taking care of her family and friends her health began to fail. She was a breast cancer survivor for 17 years. In her early 80s she moved to Rangely, Colo., to be near her daughter, son-in-law and many grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Red; parents Edgar and Louise Reed; siblings Stanley Reed, Gordon Reed, Margret Baird and Florence Ismay; grandson Mike Chism. Crissie is survived by her daughter Paula (Larry) Yardley; son Rod Smith; grandchildren Deborah (Norm) Hall; Barbara Chism, Lonnie (Heidi) Yardley; great-grandchildren Becky (Gary) Davis, Michael (Brandi) Chism, Melissa (Aaron) Cords, Mandi (Dylan) Smuts, Megan Chism, Brent Bland, Justin Yardley, Faith Yardley; 11 great-great-grandchildren and several step-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and many, many friends.
“Wait and See.”
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Nucla/Naturita Ambulance Services. Graveside services were held at Norwood Cemetery.