Carole Sue "Suzie" Smith, age 74, died at home on November 10th, 2015, after a heroic battle with ALS. Carole was born in Salem, Missouri, spent a number of years in Ohio, and then moved to metropolitan Washington, DC in 1985. After graduating from the University of Missouri, she became a mother of two and later began a fulfilling career in hospital health care. She was also an advocate for Native Americans, the physically challenged, and animal welfare, and was passionate about various liberal societal issues. This led her to volunteer over the last two decades at the Smithsonian Institution, using her gentle voice to create recordings for the blind and raising funds to open and then sustain the National Museum of the American Indian. She also recorded for the Learning Ally and volunteered with the Red Cross at Walter Reed Military Hospital. However, she was first and foremost dedicated to family and her beloved dogs.

She was the ultimate mother and grandmother, and always viewed raising her children as the most important work of her life. She also had many close friends and neighbors and cared deeply about each one. Her quiet modesty, selflessness, and genuine kindness were traits admired by family, friends and patients. She always took great care of herself and was beautiful inside and out. Despite the suffering caused by ALS, she carried a positive attitude and a smile on her face until the day she died. She was a remarkable lady who was much loved and will never be forgotten.

She is survived by her husband of 21 years, Lee Smith, of Washington, DC; daughter Tara Vogt of Atlanta, GA; son Brandon Vogt of Colorado Springs, CO; stepdaughter Justine Barton of Seattle, WA; stepson Alexander Smith of Seattle, WA; sister Mary Butler of Kansas City, MO; brother James Brown of Athens, OH; sister in law Janice Smith of San Carlos, CA, and five grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family request all donations go to http://webdc.alsa.org/goto/carole-sue-smith