Victoria "Vickie" Rochelle Smith

Vickie Smith passed peacefully the evening of March 27, 2025, at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs. Her family was with her, and she was made comfortable with palliative care by her ICU nurse and staff. 

Plans for a memorial service are yet to be determined. Gifts in her memory can be directed to Wild Connections, the Ocean Conservancy, Galapagos Conservancy, or Katmai Conservancy. 

Vickie was born in Denver Colorado on November 14, 1954, to Arthur W. Smith and Jean C. Smith where she grew up with her sister and two brothers and went to elementary and middle school. Her family joined the staff of the Ecumenical Institute/Institute of Cultural Affairs in the late 1960’s and she was a vital part of the younger generation. She graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1972 and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1977 with a BA in early childhood education. Her professional life spanned nearly 40 years with Mountain Bell/Dex Media, beginning as a temporary employee, advancing to paste-up for the Yellow Pages and many years in the skilled support team for sales staff until she retired at age 53. 

Vickie had a lifelong interest in oceans and was an avid scuba diver with advanced certifications, as well as an accomplished underwater photographer. She loved to travel the world and camp with family and her dogs throughout the USA. She supported the ocean, national parks, and animal charities and volunteered as a breast cancer survivor for events. As a member of Wild Connections, her participation in habitat restoration projects and creating digital files of 15 years of roadless area records contributed to the protection of central Colorado’s wild lands. 

She is predeceased by her father Arthur W. Smith, her four grandparents, a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. She is survived by her mother, Jean C. Smith of Colorado Springs; brothers Michael Smith of Minneapolis, MN; Patrick Smith (Judy ) of Coon Rapids, MN; sister Valerie Wainwright (Tom) of Aurora, CO; nephews John Wainwright (Gloria Rios partner) of Aurora, CO; Matthew Wainwright of Aurora, CO; and aunt Marge McManus of Haslett MI ; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and grandnieces-nephews from both sides of the family.