RENEE ANN SMITH (BATES)

RENEE ANN SMITH (BATES)
April 5, 1980–Feb. 12, 2020
Renee Ann Smith (Bates) died peacefully in her sleep on Feb. 12, 2020, at Weston County Health Services in Newcastle, Wyo., after a battle with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Renee was born in Casper, Wyo., to Georgenna Lynn Hardon and Hayden Ferret Bates on April 5, 1980. She spent all of her young life in Casper and Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Renee was very passionate about the things she loved most. She wasn’t a big sports fan, but she was a huge New Orleans Saints fan. She loved children and she loved to cook. Later in life she decided to go to culinary school and was accepted to Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale, Ariz.
She graduated with an associate’s degree in May of 2012. After her graduation she went to work for Salt River Fields as the executive chef, serving the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks at their spring training facilities. 
Renee had always wanted to have a large family but had been unable to have any of her own. Then she met Richard Smith and was blessed with a miracle baby boy, Nicholas. She was also blessed to get to love five more children: Tiffany, Kristin, Cameron, Richard and Haley. With the birth of Nicholas, they decided to move the family back to Wyoming and Renee got a job as the dietary manager at Weston County Health Services. 
Renee was diagnosed with ALS in July 2017. She fought a very debilitating disease with grace, dignity and her usual sass.
She is preceded in death by her father, Hayden Bates, her maternal grandfather, Jeep Hardon, and grandmother, Kay Hardon. 
She is survived by her husband, Richard, and children of Newcastle; mother, Georgenna (Mel) Materi of Upton, Wyo.; her aunt, Sunnie (Tim II) Sanderson of Idaho; brothers, Eric (Kathy) of Arizona and Daniel (Lexus) of Ohio; loving step-mother, Jackie Bates of Jackson Hole; fraternal grandparents, Ann and Jan Bates of Utah; along with too many other loving family members to list. 
Services were held Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Newcastle. Visitation was from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. with services at 11 a.m. Luncheon was served after the services. Burial took place at 2 p.m. at the Greenwood Cemetery in Upton.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Weston County Health Services Foundation or the church of your choice. 
Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Meridian Mortuary, 111 S. Railroad Ave., Newcastle, WY 82701. Condolences may also be expressed at meridianmortuary.com.