Marda Michelle Smith

Marda “Nomah” Michelle Smith, 53, of Anchorage, died Dec. 25 at her residence.

A celebration of Nomah’s life will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Del Rois Bar, Mile 39.5 Old Glenn Highway, Butte.

Marda was born Oct. 21, 1956 in Freeport, Texas, to Ronald and Margaret (Houston) Dennis. The family moved to Alaska in March, 1959. Over the years, she lived in Anchorage, Palmer and Fairbanks. She worked as a convenience store clerk, waitress, security at the airport, and a desk clerk at Eagle Crest in Anchorage. Nomah enjoyed helping with food drives for the homeless, and packing Thankgivings and Christmas boxes. She also liked spending time with her grandchildren, Ariel and Jacob.

Her family wrote, “Marda was a free spirit. She did not like being told what to do. She loved helping others and she dearly loved her grandchildren, Jacob and Ariel that called her Nomah.

Marda is survived by her daughters, Marsharie Buchanan and Hope Britt; son, Justin Britt; her grandchildren, Ariel and Jacob; her mother, Margaret Dennis; and sister, Mikayla Dennis and her children, Jayla and Ron Gentry. She also leaves her friends Christine Holmberg of Cantwell and Betty and Bill of Anchorage who she thought so much of.

She is preceded in death by her father, Ronald Dennis.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Cremation Society of Alaska, www.alaskacremation.com.