Christy Smith

Longtime Lake Tahoe resident Christy Smith died July 23, 2016. She was 67.

Christine Cosbey was born March 10, 1949, in Altadena 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 medicine.

She married Tim Smith in 1970, and together they had two children: a son, Corey, and a daughter, Kelly.

With 6-week-old Corey in tow, the couple moved to Lake Tahoe in 1972, and spent the rest of their years in Northern Nevada.

Once her children were 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 four-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 state and federal lawmaker on the behalf of organizations dedicated to increasing government funding for childhood cancer research.

Christy was also a talented painter, and spent her retirement years expressing this talent. She had an exceptionally keen eye for color and texture.

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.

Christy was preceded in death by her father, Jack Cosbey.

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

A celebration of Christy’s Life will be Aug. 8 at 1pm at the Supper Club at Genoa Lakes Golf Club, 1 Genoa Lakes Drive, Genoa.

In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation in Christy’s memory to the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, 3550 Barron Way, Suite 9A, Reno, NV 89511.