Hazel Smith passed away on March 6, 2008 at the home of her son, Colin Smith, in Rio Rancho. She was born Sept. 24, 1905 in Chicago, Illinois.

In 1923 Hazel graduated from Oak Park High School in a suburb of Chicago. After high school she attended Drama School. She worked in Canadian Chautauqua for two summers.

Hazel spent her winters trying to hit the big time on Broadway. She finally landed a part in a show called “Appearances” as an off-stage scream. Then she got a job as a touring director. A group in a town would want to put on a play; perhaps as a fund raiser; and would rent the scripts, costumes and a director. In that capacity, she traveled to Durango, Colorado, completing the last leg from Alamosa to Durango via the narrow-gauge railroad. At the boarding house where she stayed she met another boarder, Colin Smith (Smitty), an Assistant District Attorney for the state of Colorado. When Smitty had business in New York City in 1930, he and Hazel were married in the Little Church around the corner. By 1932, Smitty had become an attorney with the U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission. They were living in Denver and then moved to River Forest, Illinois where Hazel became an active member of the Infant Welfare Society and the Oak Park Club. By that time, they had a daughter and a son, so Hazel used her drama skills as a Den Mother and Brownie Leader.

In about 1950, the Interstate Commerce Commission closed and Smitty moved to the Department of Justice as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. This move took them to Washington D.C. where Hazel became a Docent at the National Cathedral.

Upon retirement in 1970, Hazel and Smitty moved to Rio Rancho when there were fewer than three thousand residents. They built their first house, one of three Hazel would build in Rio Rancho, the last one when she was eighty-nine years old. She and Smitty were charter members of Rio Rancho Country Club and Hazel was a charter member of Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church.

When Hazel decided she could no longer drive she moved to Acantilado Vista, a retirement home, where she lived for the past six years. She would tell every one that of all the places she had lived the nicest people lived in Rio Rancho. She was a true lady and will be missed by all who knew her.

Hazel was preceded in her death by her husband Colin Smith, her daughter Colinda Smith and her grandson Colin A Smith the third. She is survived by her son Colin Smith, his wife JoAnn, of Rio Rancho, her grandson David Smith and his wife Rashana of Henderson, Texas and many nieces and nephews.