Alberta Smith Obituary

Former Durango resident Alberta Smith died suddenly Wednesday, May 7, 2014. She was 73.

Known as "Bert," she was born to Albert and Mary Conner in April 1941 at Mercy Hospital in Durango. One of 10 children, she went to grade school and attended high school in the Hesperus and Durango areas.

On Dec. 27, 1961, she married Denver Smith in Durango.

Mrs. Smith spent many years traveling the West with her husband, who worked for the Bureau of Reclamation. They lived in Colorado, Washington and Utah before settling in Phoenix in 1971.

For years, she attended and instructed at Paradise Valley Community Sunday and Vacation Bible schools, near Phoenix. She enjoyed spending time with her family and a community of close-knit friends.

She loved horses, the outdoors, her flowers, her hummingbirds and the Phoenix Suns, her family said.

"She was truly a thoughtful and loving person," according to her family, "known for always having a kind word for everyone she knew."

Mrs. Smith is survived by her husband of 52 years, Denver Smith, of Phoenix; children Londa Maloy, Brenda Farrell and Randy Smith, all of Phoenix; sisters Blanche Valencia, of Hesperus, Mae Boughan, of Pagosa Springs, Mercedes McReynold, of Aztec, Pattie Willis, of Kirtland, New Mexico, and Mary Louise Gray, of Shallotte, North Carolina; brothers Bob Conner and Don Conner, both of Farmington; two grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Cremation will occur. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Barrows Neurological Institute, 350 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85013.