In Loving Memory of Julie Smith

Julie Ann Smith, 67, passed away on December 29, 2018. She was born in Japan on June 18, 1949, to Yoshiko “Judy” (Honda) Merten and James Sumpter. She had been a resident of Cotopaxi for seven years.

Julie grew up in Colorado Springs, where she attended Widefield High School. She went on to study interior decorating and design, which became her career. She also worked as a personal care attendant and cared for her mother for two years until Judy passed away in 2009.

Julie was a very compassionate person; she worked for several years as a caregiver for Seniors in Pueblo, looking after sick and disabled people. An avid reader, Julie particularly enjoyed Dean Koontz (especially the Jane Hawk books) and Stephen King, and liked to watch shows about the paranormal. She also enjoyed gardening, puzzles and fishing, and got great pleasure from feeding and watching wildlife as well as spending time with her bird Tiki Toy and her dog, Major.

She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Brinson “Rick” Smith; her children, daughter Kerry and son-in-law Nick Pasklivich, son John DiGidio and daughter Pauline DiGidio, son Robert Woolridge, and stepdaughters Vanessa Yarborough and Caroline Smith; her granddaughters Ambreen Khan and Zak Khan; and her grandson Carter Rasmussen.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, James Sumpter and Yoshiko “Judy” Merten, and her friend, Richard Kelly.

Her family would like to extend our gratitude to Janice Watkin, Julie’s caregiver and friend, nurse Cheyenne McGinnis, Chris, and Chaplain Sean at Fremont Regional Hospice, as well as all of the staff there who helped Julie.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00pm Saturday, January 5, 2018 at the Return to Nature Chapel, 516 North 10th Street, Canon City, Colorado 81212.

Service arrangements are under the direction of Return to Nature Funeral Service, Canon City, Colorado