Nancy Lismore Smith Nebeker

Nancy Lismore Smith Nebeker, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2025 surrounded, as she always was, by her loving family. The loss of her presence will be felt by all who knew and loved her.
Nancy was born on January 19,1955 in midtown Manhattan - the daughter of a stockbroker father John J. Smith and a magazine editor mother Nora O'Leary. Even from a young age, Nancy considered herself incredibly lucky to grow up in the heart of New York City where she savored museums, Broadway plays, world class restaurants, and fascinating people from around the world. While her parents rose from limited means and educational opportunities, they prioritized and sacrificed for their children's education - a choice that influenced everything in Nancy's life. She graduated from the Spence School in NYC in 1973, attended Connecticut College before transferring to Brigham Young University to complete her Bachelor's Degree in 1977 followed by a Master's Degree in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University in Washington, D.C. in 1981.
During her undergraduate years at BYU, Nancy made the life changing decision to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From that time forward, Nancy felt her greatest and most significant identity was as a daughter of God and a disciple of Jesus Christ. She served faithfully in a variety of Church callings, including fifteen years as a Relief Society president at the branch, ward, and stake level. Nancy believed there was no greater call than teaching the doctrine of Christ, and she particularly loved working with teens and young adults who became her treasured, lifelong friends. Describing how her life changed after she was baptized, Nancy often described it as if her life went from black and white to full color. Everything became richer, more meaningful, and more filled with joy.
Nancy met and married the love of her life, Michael Smith Nebeker while she was in graduate school in D.C. They married in the Washington, D.C temple on February 28, 1981. They began the adventure of a lifetime by immediately moving to Bangkok, Thailand to work with the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, assisting Amer-Asian children left behind from the Vietnam War. They spent the first three years of marriage abroad and then returned stateside for Michael's graduate work and a three-year stint in New York City before returning to Thailand for another seven years. They finally repatriated to the Salt Lake Valley in 1993 to begin their long association with the Waterford School in Sandy, Utah.
Along the way, six amazing children were born - two in New York, two in Bangkok, and the last two in Sandy, Utah. Conrad, Chase, Margot, Austin, Lismore, and Reid became the light of her life. Teaching each of them how to read and love good books, to appreciate the beauty of nature all around them and to serve and respect folks from around the world brought meaning and purpose to her experience as a mother. Cooking delicious Thai food with her kids, spending time at their stunning North Eden ranch at Bear Lake, reading by the fire, and playing games together to close out the day were some of her favorite things to enjoy with each of them.
For the last several years, some of Nancy's greatest satisfaction and joy came from her work as the Dean of Students at Waterford School. Nancy had a deep belief in the potential and capacity of young people, and she delighted in helping her students see the opportunity hidden in every challenge. Helping students grow and triumph simply fed her soul. She often told families and students that her door was always open to them. They soon discovered that her heart was always open too, ready to help and support them as they navigated difficult things.
Nancy is survived by her husband Michael, children Conrad (Lindsay), Chase, Margot (Tyson) Andrus, Austin (Cara), Lismore and Reid along with six treasured grandchildren Emma Gage, Phineas, Ira, Phebe, Nora and Behr. Her bonus son Marc Gardner (Lilit) has also been a tender blessing, along with her sister Wendy (Chris) and brother Stephen (Sally) and their children.
In lieu of flowers, you're invited to make a donation to The Nancy Nebeker Scholarship Fund
She will be laid to rest in the Laketown, Utah, cemetery just a stone's throw away from her beloved Bear Lake.
A luncheon will follow the service for invited family and close friends to share good food and sweet memories together. At a time like this, Nancy wanted us to be together.