Leslee Denise (Wickham) Smith brought her loving light into this world on December 7, 1954, and shone it on the world.

That bright, loving light dimmed and departed into the cosmos on March 26, 2024, after a lengthy, gritty-but-graceful, three-and-a-half-year dance with hepatocellular carcinoma, a cancer of the liver. Her illness ended a career that she loved, stole her from the community she cared so deeply for and served in so many ways, and has left her family and friends devastated.

Leslee’s life and light may have been extinguished far too soon, but they were bright and beautiful throughout her 69 years here on Earth. Leslee spent the first 26 years of her working life dedicated to children and families, working as a child and family counselor and behavior specialist, both in the private sector and for the Blaine (Washington) School District. During her latter employment she received the Washington State Excellence in Teaching Award, which was presented to her by then Governor Gary Locke in the legislature of the state capital in Olympia, Washington.

Leslee became interested in the fire service and began volunteering locally. She was recruited and hired as a firefighter/EMT at age 45 and served with honor, integrity, and grace until she retired as a lieutenant in the fall of 2021. After 26 years in the fire service, serving the community that she loved, her second line-of-duty cancer diagnosis forced her to take a medical retirement.

Throughout her distinguished career, she was instrumental in mentoring and training many new recruits and set a fine example for women and men in the fire service. Helping people and making this world a better place was displayed in the way this wonderful woman led her life. During her final days in Whatcom Hospice House, where she shone her final light on the wonderful staff there, she received a letter of recognition from Washington State Senator Liz Lovelett, who honored Leslee for her service and inspiration and deemed her a “Firebrand” for women in the fire service. She was indeed that and so much more to her family and friends. She was her family’s North Star and guiding light and will always be.

She died as she lived, bright and beautiful and full of grace.