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(FOX40.COM) — Susan “Suzie” Smith, a beloved nurse, took her final flight on Sunday afternoon with a special procession held by loved ones.
Her family announced Smith’s death on Saturday, just five days after a REACH air medical helicopter crashed on Highway 50 with Smith and two others on board.
Family, community members and first responders held a procession Sunday to honor her legacy as they flew her back home from Sacramento to Red Bluff, then continued the procession by ground ambulance to Palo Cedro in Shasta County.
Smith served as a nurse for 50 years before losing her life doing what she’s passionate about — caring for patients. In a statement, loved ones told FOX40 that they will always remember the woman as a pillar of the EMS and healthcare community, a rescuer delivering care to those in their darkest hours, a colleague and a friend.
Smith’s story captivated many local hearts. FOX40 met Isabella Lozano Villescaz, who witnessed the crash and tried to save Smith. The grief-stricken Sacramento woman recounted the frightening experience.
“I can still see her there and holding her hand,” Lozano Villescaz said. “I wish she could have opened her eyes, but she couldn’t.”
Lozano Villescaz also shared a message to Smith’s loved ones.
“To let her family know she was not alone,” Lozano said. “I never left her, I never left her. To give them the peace of mind that she was not on that floor by herself. I held her hands, I talked to her.”
The two others on board that fateful medical flight are fighting for their lives at UC Davis Medical Center. Pilot Chad Millward and a paramedic — Margaret Davis — remain in critical condition, but officials told FOX40 they are expected to survive.
With solemn silence as crews gently carried the woman to rest, those who knew Smith said they hope she is remembered for the light she brought to every call. They added that her life was not wasted, but poured out with “purpose, courage, and deep intention.”
Smith’s family is planning a celebration of life to remember the nurse. They’re also establishing a memorial foundation to honor her legacy.
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Sierra Krug
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