April 8, 1929 ~ March 12, 2024
Georgiana Smith, 94, passed away on March 12, 2024. She was a resident of Salida for over 60 years.
Georgi was born in Colorado Springs and graduated from St. Mary’s High School and received her music degree at Loretto Heights College. Before her marriage, she was a business office supervisor for Mountain Bell in Colorado Springs. She married Maruice Smith in 1954 and they lived in Leadville and Buena Vista before settling in Salida and raising their family surrounded by the mountains they both loved. Weekends jeeping in the high country, camping trips, and summer vacations across the US are treasured memories.
Georgi was organist at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church for over 30 years and played for so many weddings and funerals for the community. She was member of Chapter FN of PEO and was a past-president. She was past-president or board member of St. Joseph’s Home and School Association, Salida Aspen Concerts, Salida Booster Club, Friends of the Library, and St. Joseph’s Parish Council. She was a former member of the Salida Museum Association and a member of Salida Rotary, providing music at their meetings and enjoying their events. Georgi was director of Angel of Shavano Sweet Adelines and was co-founder (with Jeanne Kostelic) and director of the Noteables for 13 years. She was music director of many High Country Fine Arts Association musicals. She was a member of “Thirty Furious Fingers” (three pianists on one piano).
Georgi was named Woman of the Year in 1986; she received the Chamber of Commerce Cornerstone Award in 2000; and she received a Rotary Service award in 2001. She was also known as the “dishrag lady” – knitting over 600 dishrags and donating them to the Bus Stop Boutique in Salida which was a store in Salida that was ran by hospice volunteer Kathy Haruf as a fundraiser to raise money to open a Hospice House in Salida. She loved her mountains, but also enjoyed travel to many parts of the world with dear friends and with family.
Georgiana was preceded in death by her husband Maurice (in 1976) and by her parents Anna and George Rieden, her brother and sister-in-law Alfred and Irene Rieden, her sister MaryAnn Shumate, and brother-in-law Tom Shumate. Also preceded in death by nephew Tommy Shumate, niece Vicki Rieden, niece Patty Powers, great-niece Jeanette Powers great-great nephew Justin Shumate, and great-great-great nephew Loyal Mason. She is survived by her children Maurine (Lori Hitchcock) Smith, Laurine (Tony Petree) Smith, and Michael (Loni Sprulock) Smith. By step-granddaughters Shelby (Josh) Sharp and their children Kailee and Lexi and Danielle (Sara Vail) Petree and family. By beloved nephew and nieces Carrie McKinney, Bill Shumate, Anne Willie, Jane McCabe, Marcia Owens, Suzie Baker, and Peggy Baldridge and their families. By the Kelly cousins in Kansas City and by extended family in Detroit. And by many dear friends in Salida.
The family thanks Cappella Assisted Living in Pueblo West for their loving care of our mom and for their compassionate support. We are forever grateful for the work you do. Thank you to Gentiva Hospice for their brief but valuable services.
Donations in Georgi’s memory can be made to the Justin Shumate Scholarship through Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home. Justin was Georgi’s great-great nephew and a fellow musician.
Memorial Mass will be held April 6, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with internment to follow at Fairview Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at lewisandglenn.com. Arrangements are with Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
