Memorial for state Sen. Debbie Smith will be Sunday in Sparks

By Sandra Chereb Las Vegas Review-Journal Capital Bureau

8 years ago

Nevada Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, discusses on Saturday, June 4, 2011, the $6.2 billion bill that is meant to fund the state government for the next two years. (Lisa Tolda/Special to the Las Vegas Review-Journal)

State Sen. Debbie Smith, D-Sparks. (File/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Nevada Sen. Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, and her daughter, Erin Smith Marlo, look through gifts left in her office in the Legislative Building in Carson City on Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Smith returned to work Wednesday, two months after having a malignant brain tumor removed. (Cathleen Allison/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Gov. Brian Sandoval congratulates Sens. Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, and Aaron Ford, D-Las Vegas, following passage of Sandoval‘s $1.1 billion tax package at the Legislative Building in Carson City on Monday, June 1, 2015. (Cathleen Allison/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Nevada Senate Majority Leader Michael Roberson, R-Henderson, speaks in support of a record $1.1 billion general fund tax package during Senate floor discussion at the Legislative Building in Carson City on Monday, June 1, 2015. Roberson praised Sen. Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, center, for her years of education advocacy. (Cathleen Allison/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

CARSON CITY — A public memorial will be held Sunday at Sparks High School for state Sen. Debbie Smith.

The Sparks Democrat who served in both the Senate and Assembly died Sunday at the age of 60.

Services will begin at noon. The family requests donations be made in Smith’s name to the Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation, which supports brain tumor research.

Smith was diagnosed with a brain tumor early last year just before the start of the 2015 Legislature. She underwent surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Clinic in Houston and returned for the final weeks of the session.

She returned to the Legislature to hugs and tears from colleagues and friends, who paid tribute to her with a slide show in the Senate chambers as a recording of Taylor Swift’s “Fight Song” played over the sound system.

Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval ordered flags in the state be lowered to half-staff in Smith’s honor.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3821. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb