South Lake Tahoe lost a dear friend on Christmas Day. Arta Ann (Larsen) Smith, better known as Artie, left this world on Dec. 25, 2011, after a long, courageous battle with heart disease and ultimately a brown recluse spider bite.

Born in Tremonton, Utah, on Oct. 16, 1940, to Myron Tanner Hansen and Arta Josephine (Larsen) Hansen, Artie was predeceased by her two older children, Suzanna Jo and Cynthia Lee. She is survived by her brother Brent Myron Hansen, son Steven Andrew Smith, and six grandsons.

Artie moved from the Bay Area to South Lake Tahoe in the early 1990s when she worked at the Tahoe Daily Tribune for nearly five years; later for many years through the Substitute, at Kingsbury Crossing, and at the Holiday Lodge.

She leaves dear family, countless friends and many co-workers who miss her friendly, out-going personality.

Community services are set for Jan. 6 at 11:30am at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center on Rufus Allen Boulevard, with internment to follow at Happy Homestead Cemetery.