Shirley Smith

After an extended illness, Shirley A. Smith passed away peacefully in Chico, California, on February 25, 2026.

Shirley was born on April 24, 1933, in Sepulveda, California to Clarence and Alice Smith. She was raised in Waterville, Kansas, in the farming community of Cottage Hill. Growing up in a close-knit rural community shaped the values Shirley carried throughout life-hard work, kindness, fairness, and a deep sense of responsibility to others. From an early age, Shirley loved games, sports, and being outdoors, interests that naturally grew into a lifelong passion for physical education and teaching.

Shirley graduated with a Master's degree in Physical Education from San Jose State University in 1961 and joined the CSU Chico faculty later that same year. Teaching was more than a career for Shirley; it was a calling. Shirley pursued a doctorate and proudly earned an EdD from the University of New Mexico in 1969.

With more than 30 years at CSU Chico, Shirley touched countless lives. Shirley found special joy in coaching the women's swim team and teaching swimming, physical education, physical fitness and principles of competitive athletics. Shirley was inducted into the CSUC Hall of Fame in 1990. Working alongside Dr. Betty Lou Raker, Shirley helped establish the Movement Design Center, introducing innovative technology to physical education programs. Ever committed to fairness and inclusion, Shirley later served as CSUC Director of Affirmative Action for nine years, advocating for equity with integrity and compassion.

Shirley was known for living with heartland values-a genuine friendliness, a strong sense of community and a salt-of-the-earth work ethic. She especially enjoyed spending time with friends and family and attending parties, always bringing warmth, laughter, and joy to those around her. Friends, colleagues, and former students alike remember Shirley as a mentor, a role model, and someone who quietly but firmly stood for what was right. The lessons that Shirley shared extended far beyond the classroom.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Alice Smith, and sister, Ruth Ann.

She is survived by her children, Melissa and Travis Woodall, and Mike and Renee Rice-Smith; many cousins and extended family members; and a wide circle of friends and former students who remain deeply grateful for Shirley's presence in their lives. Shirley was a devoted member of the Center for Spiritual Living, where Shirley found community, purpose, and spiritual connection.

A graveside service will be held at 10:30 am on June 6, 2026, in the Cottage Hill Cemetery.

The Christie-Anderes Funeral Home in Waterville is handling the arrangements.