Denise Smith

Denise Agatha Smith, fondly known as Deni, was a woman of strength, resilience, and immeasurable love. Born on March 30, 1953, in Winslow, AZ, she made her journey to the stars on December 7, 2025, leaving a legacy of unyielding love and compassion. A woman of remarkable character, she held the family together with grace, warmth, and an infectious sense of humor.

Denise spent her fruitful years in Bremerton, Washington, where she was known for her selfless spirit and her determination to overcome life's challenges. Despite being disabled, Denise was far from being immobilized. She was a beacon of hope, a testament to the tenacity of the human spirit. She proved to the world that it is not our circumstances that define us, but our courage to rise above them. In the words of Helen Keller, "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through the experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

Denise was preceded in death by her beloved husband Thomas Smith, her father Manuel Ybarra, and her mother Ruth Ybarra. She is survived by her devoted sons, Rudy, Ricardo, and Nathan Vigil, her loving brother Manuel Ybarra, and her caring sisters, Annette Stecker and Terry Davison. Her daughter-in-law, Debbie Vigil, will remember Denise for her nurturing spirit and unconditional love.

Denise was a woman who lived her life with her heart on her sleeve. She loved deeply, laughed heartily, and embraced life's challenges with grace and courage. In the words of Maya Angelou, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Denise made everyone feel loved, valued, and special.

Not the world traveler, born and raised in Winslow, Arizona. She lived briefly in California and spent some time in Texas. The majority of her later years were spent in Chickasha, Oklahoma and Bremerton, Washington State. She did travel as often as she was able to visit her brother Manuel (Tuffy) and family in Jupiter, Florida.

She loved to hunt, fish, camp and swim. She loved to refurbish old furniture. She liked to sew, but she really loved to cook she was famous for her red chili enchiladas, tamales and scallop potatoes. Her tortillas where the closest to our grandma Rafela's as you could get. An avid swimmer she loved hanging out at Clear Creek, and Chevelon Creek. We camped on weekends at Chevelon Canyon/Lake and partied till we dropped.

John Wayne would have been proud to have known that Denise was one of his biggest fans. She watched every one of his movies twice if not more. She would quote lines, and describe scenes from some movies I didn’t know he was in
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Her greatest achievement was raising her sons. Through adversity and strength, she raised three incredible young men who despite their challenges growing up and life’s traps, she managed to give them the love and guidance to keep them on an even keel and deal with life’s ups and downs.

Raised Roman Catholic, she remained faithful, she held on to her core faith in God and Jesus and the promise of life everlasting.

We invite all those whose lives were touched by Denise to leave their memories and upload photos on her memorial page. Let's celebrate her life, remember her spirit, and keep her memory alive for generations to come.