Martha Susan Smith

The Smith family is saddened to report the passing of Martha Susan (Carpenter) Smith, age 79, in the early morning of the 12th of May, 2026, in North Las Vegas, Nevada. She was attended by her sister, husband and children at the Centennial Hills hospital in the weeks before her death.

Marty was born in Long Beach, California in 1946 to David Carpenter, an Air Force fighter pilot, and Helen (Harriman) Carpenter. She and her sister Christy moved often as an Air Force family, living on bases in California, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Nouasseur Air Base near Casablanca, Morocco.

As a young woman, Marty was a proficient musician and athlete. She played piano, sang in her high school jazz band, and was DJ and host for a radio program in Morocco called Marty’s Teen Time. Later, she sang in a band called the Offutaires, a wives choral group at Offut Air Force Base in Nebraska. She enjoyed softball, tennis and bowling, swimming and horseback riding. She loved studying business and French, a member of the National Honor Society and co-valedictorian of her high school class, and attended San Diego State University.

While working as a waitress in the Ellsworth Air Base Officer’s Club, she met Allan Smith, a newly commissioned officer. They dated long-distance for several years, and were married in 1967 before Allan was deployed to Vietnam. Over the next 58 years, they were stationed in Nebraska, South Dakota, Maryland, Greece, Japan and Hawaii; and travelled together for pleasure all over the world. She filled her houses with artwork and mementos from everywhere she lived, and gave her children a love of travel and new experiences.

After retiring she continued to support others through volunteer work at her grandchildren's schools in South Carolina, the US Red Cross, the Nellis VA Hospital Pharmacy and serving on the Ardiente Community Social Committee. She loved spending time with friends, making new ones and always supporting those around her. She impacted more lives than can be counted.

Marty is survived by her husband of 58 years, Allan Smith; her sister Christy; and her children Terry and Kadra. She has 4 grandchildren, 3 nieces, 1 nephew and 5 grand-nieces and nephews.

There will be a memorial service at Palm Northwest Mortuary in North Las Vegas on June 6, 2026 at 1:00 in the afternoon. Refreshments will be served following the services.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made in her honor to the Wounded Warriors Foundation or your local ASPCA in her honor.