Dana Point, California on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 after battling a
complicated set of medical conditions including Parkinson's Disease.
She was born on September 24, 1953 in Fort Ord (Monterey),
California to Linual Smithey and Frances (Megan) Smithey.
She graduated from Carleton College with a degree in Biology followed
by a Masters in Early Childhood Special Education from Teachers
College, Columbia University. She held multiple teaching credentials
in both California and New York.
Throughout her 40 year career in special education Lynn helped
many people in many ways -- teaching children, teaching teachers,
training teachers and through private consulting helping parents
advocate for their children. She was an expert in, and a relentless
advocate of, inclusion of students with special needs in general
education classrooms as well as within the community at large. Her
love of teaching drove her to push very hard to keep her classes
going even as her medical challenges escalated.
Lynn developed a complicated but beautiful mix of approaches to
life. Meticulous, methodical, mathematical yet intuitive, creative,
and always an awesome sense of humor. She embraced modern medical
treatments, alternative healing practices and ancient health
techniques. All of this was woven within her strong Catholic faith.
She was constantly reading newspapers, magazines, books, research
papers and blogs. Lynn loved going to her book group. She was a
great writer -- a skill that she put to good use writing persuasive
reports for her consulting projects.
Along with her brother David she took care of her mother for 17
years. Lynn was always helping people and that continued to the end
of her life as she advised relatives on their special education
issues while she was in the hospital.
She loved animals and especially enjoyed being around dogs, cats and
birds. She enjoyed doing crafts like knitting, visiting with family
and friends and being near the ocean.
Lynn is survived by her brother David.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Vincent Meals on
Wheels.
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