SMITH, Shannon Dee

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona Published Monday, September 14, 2009 Shannon Dee Smith was born Dec. 9, 1967, in Portland, Ore., and joined her mother, father and brother on Feb. 6, 1968. She left behind a much larger family when she died Aug. 26, 2009, in Lake Havasu City. Shannon’s childhood in Lake Oswego, Ore., was filled with many family trips, softball, volleyball, guitar, piano and her poetry. She excelled academically, and her athletic prowess was instrumental in taking her high school volleyball and softball teams to the district level. Shannon enjoyed snorkeling in Hawaii and also climbing to the top of the Statue of Liberty to peer out of the crown. She loved an adventure. College studies led to a degree and certification as an emergency medical tech. Shannon worked in this field for several years before transitioning into the family business. Shannon was also very artistic; she worked in oils and charcoal. Her pieces have been exhibited in Northwest galleries. Several illnesses including cancer and stroke affected Shannon early in life and continued to plague her daily activities. Poetry and the love of her cats filled the space that normally would have been filled by a traditional family. Shannon is survived by her mother and stepfather, Clairdell and Richard Ross, of Lake Havasu city; father, Lawrence M. Smith (Emily), of Bend, Ore.; brother, Brian B. Smith, of Lake Havasu City; step-brothers, Christopher Ross (Stacie), of Albuquerque, N.M., and Davis Barringer (Ruth), of Madras, Ore.; step-sisters, Debbie Babcock (Joe), of Hamilton Mont., and Julie Malick, of Leesburg, Fla.; nephews, Cody A. Smith and Zachary H. Smith, of Lake Havasu City; nieces, Haley M. Smith of Redmond, Ore., Amanda Babcock of Hamilton, Mont., and Brenna Ross, Of Albuquerque, N.M.; her uncles, Gary L. Smith, Lake Oswego, Ore., and Del Grate, Lake Oswego, Ore., and her precious cat, Monty. Shannon will be placed in The Dalles, Oregon IOOF Cemetery with her grandmother, Della E. Davidson. Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home & Crematory.