CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF GARY LEE SMITH

GARY LEE SMITH WAS BORN APRIL 22,1964, IN DENVER COLORADO TO THE PROUD PARENTS OF HOZEL SMITH SR., AND EVA MAE SMITH-STEWART WHO PROCEEDED HIM IN DEATH.
GARY WAS THE SEVENTH OF EIGHT SIBLINGS:
WILLIE C. SMITH AND LULA MAE SMITH-SHELTON, WHO PROCEEDED HIM IN DEATH.
LUCINDA, GLORY, HOZEL JR., ELANE AND PAMELA, (PLUS NINE HALF SIBLINGS).
GARY WAS RAISED IN THE CHURCH; HE WAS BAPTIZED AT UNION BAPTIST CHURCH IN DENVER COLORADO, AT THE AGE OF EIGHT YEARS OLD. HE ALSO SANG IN THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH CHOIR. GARY HAD A BEAUTIFUL VOICE, BUT WAS TOO BASHFUL TO SING IN FRONT OF OTHERS.
GARY GRADUATED FROM GATEWAY HIGH SCHOOL IN 1982. BEFORE ATTENDING AND GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, HE STARTED WORKING AT THE AGE OF 14, AT BRONCO BURGER IN BUCKINGHAM SQUARE. HE WAS PROMOTED TO MANAGEMENT AT AGE 16. FROM THERE, HE WENT ON TO BE A MANAGER AT MCDONALDS IN COLORADO AND A GENERAL MANAGER AT MCDONALDS IN INDIANAPOLIS IN. FROM THERE, HE WENT IN TO BARTENDING, AND THEN A COOK FOR THE RESEARCH STUDIES DEPARTMENT AT UCHEALTH OF COLORADO, UNTIL HE RETIRED.
GARY ENJOYED COOKING AND BRINGING FAMILY TOGETHER. HE ENJOYED BEING "THE FAMILY'S CHEF." ALL OF HIS MEALS WERE DELICIOUS!
GARY ALSO ENJOYED HIS AQUA FITNESS CLASS AND THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE THAT ENTERED HIS LIFE THERE.
GARY UNEXPECTEDLY DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2023, SURROUNDED BY HIS LOVED ONES. THOSE LEFT TO CHERISH HIS MEMORIES ARE HIS SIBLINGS:
LUCINDA SMITH, GLORY (ADOLPH) HAWKINS, HOZEL SMITH JR., ELANE (RUSSELL) ROSBOROUGH, PAMELA (SEAN) GREENE; LATER IN LIFE GARY WAS BLESSED WITH MORE SIBLINGS, BRISHETTA, SHARVELLE, CAROL, JUDY, SHANAELA, FRANCEZELL, MOSES, BRIZELL, MARELL, QUEENISHA, TY'SZA, AND ZY'SHONNE SMITH. A WONDERFUL STEP MOTHER, ANITA HURD SMITH, HIS BEST FRIEND TRINA MULDROW, HIS UNCLE JOHNNY LEE POUNDS SR, AUNT SARA SMITH, AND A HOST OF OTHER AUNTS, UNCLES, NIECES, NEPHEWS, COUSINS, AND FRIENDS.