Mary Kinzie Smith

1933 - 2014

Mary Kinzie Smith
Aug. 22, 1933 – Nov. 10,2014
Resident of Santa Cruz
"I did not pass away….I died," Mary Kinzie Smith instructed her two daughters in a list entitled: "This is your mother telling you what to do….Now I am dead, there's lots of stuff to take care of."
Mary, a life-long resident of Santa Cruz, was raised on the West Side by her parents, Robert and Mary Kinzie. She attended Holy Cross Catholic School and earned her BA and Masters Degrees at San Jose State. Mary was an educator, philanthropist and avid reader. After teaching for 14 years, she focused on raising her two daughters and community service. Mary was a volunteer with the Santa Cruz Library and Shakespeare Santa Cruz, a board member of Good Shepherd Catholic School, a school site council in Live Oak, a Brownie troop leader, an archivist for Holy Cross Parish, a driver for the Volunteer Bureau, and a docent at The Long Marine Lab to name a few of her many philanthropic interests.
Mary loved mysteries, the San Francisco Giants, traveling, and her nightly cocktail of bourbon and bitters, but family was her deepest passion. Refusing to be called 'Grandma', Mary was known as 'GrandMary' to many who loved her. Mary is survived by her daughters Sheila Smith and Sharon Barnes, her sister Veronica Peterman, brother-in-law Eugene Peterman, brother Robert Kinzie, sister-in-law Joy Kinzie, son-in-law Scott Barnes, daughter-in-law Nicoll Turner, and two grandchildren, Maddison and Sean. She will be greatly missed, but her family and friends can find peace in knowing that she was ready to go Home.
A memorial service will take place at 10 am on Thursday, December 4th at Mission Santa Cruz, 126 High Street; followed by a celebration of her life (location TBD). In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in Mary's honor to your local non-profit Hospice.