Kristena ‘Kristy’ Baum Smith
Kristena ‘Kristy’ Baum Smith, 37, died March 20, 2012, after an illness. She was born in Alamogordo, N.M. on March 10, 1975.
She moved to Hobbs, N.M, in 1976 with her parents and she spent the next 33 years there. After high school, she worked as a waitress and eventually a dispatcher for the Hobbs Police Department.
She completed a nursing program at New Mexico Junior College. She then worked as a nurse until August 2011 when her decline in health forced her to stop. Ironically, her last nursing job was as a hospice nurse.
She made many friends during her short life. Her smile was contagious. She looked for the good things in people, never dwelling on the negative aspects of life. Her favorite thing to do was to take her “girls” shopping and out to eat, but most of all she loved their time together.
She also loved spending time with her best friend — her sister. They often would sit in the same room and text each other, never saying a word. They loved to watch sad movies and make fun of each other for crying.
She loved water and sunsets and spending time at Lake LBJ and on the Florida beaches.
Survivors include daughters Sydnee Marie Landrum and Addison Croft Smith, both of Hobbs N.M.; sister Kimberly Gonzales and nephews Jayden and Eythan Gonzales, all of Arcadia, Fla.; mother Judy Levin and stepfather Jon Levin of Arcadia, Fla.; father Richard Baum and stepmother Lezley Baum of Horseshoe Bay; aunt Vivian Baily of Alamogordo, N.M.; and several cousins.
A memorial service is March 27 at Crosswinds Community Church in Hobbs, N.M.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Kristy Baum Smith Nursing Scholarship Fund, New Mexico Junior College, 1 Thunderbird Circle, Hobbs, NM 88240.
A guest register may be signed at www.putnamcares.com.
Local arrangements by Putnam Funeral Home and Crematory, 145 Texas Ave., Kingsland, (325) 388-0008.