Maria Manuela Maestas Smith, a sweet and beloved wife, mother and nana, passed away April 18, 2018. She was born on New Year's Day 1936 in Taos, New Mexico.  With deep roots in Northern New Mexico, Marie descended from one of the 10 original founding families of Santa Fe.

Maria left New Mexico after high school and moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she studied to become a nurse. There she met her future husband who was serving in the US Air Force. Their lives took them to Europe, New Jersey and New York. They ended up in Panama City in 1972 where they raised two sons, then moved again briefly to Michigan and Montana before returning to Panama City for retirement. She spent most of her retirement caring for her grandchildren and family, showering them with love.

Maria is survived by her husband, Horace Smith; sons, Gregory and wife, Elizabeth Wysong, and Leron and wife, Laura; grandchildren, Victoria, Alex, Leah, Julianne, and Lana; brothers, Ralph and wife, Dora Maestas, and Tim Maestas; sisters, Ida and Cecilia Maestas and Juanita and husband, Urbano Sena; nieces and nephews, Tracy, Dominic and Erin Sena and Stacy, Adriana and Zac Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Juan Bautista Maestas and Maria Bernarda Maestas, and her younger sister, Guadalupe Maestas.

A memorial service will be held on Friday May 11, 2018 at 5 pm in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel.