This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath Surnames: Smith, Gessell Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/4695/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Dorothy Colleen Smith, 67, of Radium Springs, NM passed away August 29, 2010 after battling many different obstacles in her joyous life. She had survived leukemia, where she had a bone marrow transplant from her brother Axel, in 1992. She also survived a quadruple by-pass in 2004, while also living with diabetes for a large portion of her life. She was born January 14, 1943 in Salt Lake, Utah to Axel Sr. and Dorothy Gessell. She moved to Las Cruces, NM at the age of eleven where she attended school and later married James Peters, who she lost in 1967. She married Tommy Smith in 1968. They were married for 42 happy years when she went to meet Our Lord. She loved watching her soap operas, but mostly loved watching her grandchildren play basketball and spending time vacationing with all of them. One of her proudest moments was wearing the Las Cruces letter C she earned in pep squad at Las Cruces High School. She also was a volunteer firefighter for Radium Springs. She is survived by her husband Tommy Smith Sr.; her daughters Denzil Smith, Jannette Fratzola, (Kelly B.), Dawn Renteria (Richard), of Las Cruces, DeeDee Swope of Cloudcroft; and son Tommy Smith Jr., (LeeAnn) from Lake Wood, WA. Also by her sister, Larna (Larry) Novak; brothers, Axel Jr. (Joyce) Gessell, Perry (Donna) Gessell, and Allen (Sandy) Gessell; and her grandchildren James (Kathryn) Amanda, Amy, Amber Fratzola, Tommy Lee and Logan Trenten Smith and great granddaughter Aubrey Nicloe Fratzola, and many nieces and nephews. Colleen was preceded in death by her mother and father, brother, Jerry, sister, Shirley Jean, and grandson, Joseph Allen Fratzola. She will be missed greatly by all who knew her. A graveside service for Colleen will be held on Wednesday, September 01, 2010 at 11 a.m. at The Garden of Memories Cemetery in Hatch, NM. Arrangements are with La Paz-Graham's Funeral Home. To send condolences go to www.lapaz-grahams.com Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on August 31, 2010 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.