Cynthia Mowry Smith Baxley

Hendersonville, NC

Cynthia Lorraine Mowry Smith Baxley, 50, of Hendersonville passed away on April 23, 2014 at Pardee Hospital. She was born on August 19, 1963 in Orlando, FL to James Chester Mowry and Nancy Ryder Munson.

She graduated from Groveland Academy in Florida in 1982. After high school, she worked as a nurse and medication aide and later as a Supervisor in Charge at Oak Crest Assisted Living. She later became licensed as an Assisted Living Administrator. When her mother became unable to care for herself, Cindy provided full-time care for her and another patient, Lana Likas, until, due to her own disabilities, she was forced to give up her career as a caregiver. She then continued in what was, to her, her greatest rollómother to her two children, James and Jessica.

Cindy had a generous heart. She gave beyond her means to others without regards to her own needs. She loved the Sunday crosswords and playing card games with her family. She took great pride in her claim that she was ìthe number one grandchildî of the Ryder family. She cherished her online friends, most of whom she met in the chat community Vloggershead. She loved with all her heart, filled our days with laughter, and left us with a profound sense of loss. May the blood of Christ cleanse you, Cindy, and His grace renew your spirit as we await our glorious reunion in Heaven.

Cindy is survived by her son and daughter James and Jessica Smith, step-daughter Kayla Baxley, ìsister-cuzî Sheryl Smith, ìdaughter-nieceî Jacqualine Ponder, and nephews Jason and Lee Ponder, all of Hendersonville, NC, as well as her sister Jamie Gonzalez, brother-in-law Marco Gonzalez, and nephews Daniel, Elijah, and Isaac, all of Dalton, GA, her father James Chester Mowry of Cleveland, TN, and beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Cindy was preceded in death by her mother Nancy Ryder Munson, her aunt and uncle, Barbara and Phil Bayrouty, her uncle Dr. Philip Morton Jr., her paternal grandparents James and Elsie Mowry and her maternal grandparents Russell and Marjory Ryder.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 PM on Friday, May 2, 2014 at the chapel of Forest Lawn Funeral Home. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.