Christine Kuehn Smith

Christine Kuehn Smith, 68, first woman Commissioner for San Juan County died 04/02/21 in Phoenix, Arizona after losing her battle with pancreatic cancer. Smith was a 25 year resident of Silverton, from 1976 to 2003 (minus two years spent in Phoenix).

Smith became the first and only woman county commissioner of San Juan County by beating Ernie Kuhlman 198-130 in the 1998 election. During her tenure, the Silverton Mountain Ski area was approved. She was chairman of the county commissioners when, four years later, Kuhlman beat her by 20 votes in her re-election bid.

Chris previously spent 13 years working for The Silverton Standard & Miner newspaper, with George and Karen Chapman. She joined the Silverton Brass Band even though she could not play an instrument, by offering to learn the cymbals and became a member.

Raised in Arlington, Virginia, she attended Washington-Lee High School and received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Virginia Tech in 1974. Following a 3 month backpacking journey through Europe with a friend, she headed west in pursuit of adventure and arrived in Silverton in the fall of 1976.

She enjoyed camping, horseback riding, birding, reading, meditating, traveling and learning about anything and everything. She loved being an owner of numerous dogs and cats. She laughed, often at herself and had an exquisite sense of humor. She once purchased a large white station wagon, fondly named “the white stallion”, and said it “could turn on a dime”.

She loved her family: Steve, her husband of 37 years, son Cory (Jen), daughter Jamie (Kaiser), grandchildren Cora, Sophie and Vivian; sisters Ann (Burt), Cindy, nieces Madeline, Taylor and nephew Sam.

Chris embraced life with unquestionable integrity, unbridled joy, often fearless, always kind. Her radiant spirit and smile will not be forgotten. She was a gift to her family and friends and will be so missed.