Marie Tugana Smith

Marie Tugana Smith, 81, of Prescott, Arizona, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2019, after a valiant battle with leukemia. Marie was born June 1, 1938, in Cicero, Illinois, the daughter of the late John and Lillian Tugana.

After attending Morton High School in Chicago, she moved west to Arizona and spent most of her life in the Phoenix, Sun City and Prescott areas.

Marie had many careers during her lifetime, including office management, property management and, most recently, property investment. However, her love of art always came first and she was well-known for her diverse artistic abilities. She could draw, paint and sculpt with remarkable skill, and her artwork adorns many of the walls in our families' homes. Over the years, she was a member of various art organizations and loved teaching others the joy of art.

Marie enjoyed entertaining, traveling, gardening, reading and especially spending time with her beloved dog, Ringo. She always met life's challenges, had an adventurous spirit and lived her life to the fullest.

Marie was an inspiration to everyone who knew her and she will be deeply missed by her many friends and family. Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore T. Smith, DVM. She is survived by her significant other, Tom W. Foster, Esq.; her sister, Janet T. Kuziel (Walter); and her children, Michael L. Baggerly (Tami), Holly B. Gardner (Larry), and Daniel C. Baggerly; four grandchildren, Andrea Dermott, Michelle D'Amato (Joe), Joshua Baggerly and Matthew Baggerly; and one newborn great-grandson, Brooks D'Amato.

The family is very grateful for the wonderful doctors and nurses of the Mayo Clinic who provided invaluable care and encouragement during her treatment. Marie requested that no service take place, but memorial donations be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 98018, Washington, DC 20090-8018.

Information provided by survivors.