Cynthia Gay Smith

Cynthia Gay Furnace Smith, 67 passed away Friday, June 4, 2021  at the Hospice of Chattanooga Care Center. She was born May 4, 1954 in Dayton, Tennessee. She graduated in 1972 from Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee and obtained degrees in Elementary Education and Library Science from Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee in 1975. She began her teaching career as a librarian at Rhea County High School the same year. In 1978, she transferred to Rhea Central Elementary School teaching first grade for four years before becoming the school's only librarian until her retirement in 2020. She dearly loved her students and school family at RCES.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Forrest Dean "Pete" Furnace and Virginia Gay Wasson Furnace. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Charles Thaxton Smith, Dayton, Tennessee, son, Charles Owen (Marianna) Smith of Phoenix, Arizona, daughter Elizabeth Virginia Smith, Dayton, tn., sister Susan Amalia (Donald) Hodge Honolulu, Hawaii. She was a proud "grandma" to one beautiful, smart,talented granddaughter, Alize T.Y. Smith of Phoenix, Arizona.

A private family service will be held at a later date. Cynthia requested in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Rhea Central Elementary Library for books.

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