Charlene E. Smith, age 76, of North Platte, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, December 25, 2025, at the North Platte Care Center.

Charlene was born June 26, 1949, in Cozad, Nebraska, to Lee and Lucille (Stagemeyer) Story.

After graduating from Cozad High School, she went on to attend and graduate from nursing school in North Platte. After she got her licensure, Charlene began working for St. Mary's Hospital and continued working there when St. Mary's and Memorial Hospital merged into Great Plains Health. She served her community as an LPN for 35 years before retiring and was said to have lived life through nursing.

In addition to her professional career, Charlene had a plethora of hobbies to fill her life. She loved crafts and could often be found crocheting or working on puzzles. She loved the outdoors and spent many hours tending her garden. She was also a dog-lover, sharing her life with many dogs over the years. But most importantly, she was a mother. She loved her children dearly and was so proud to have raised them into the wonderful people they've become.

Those left to cherish Charlene's memory are her children Teresa Marshall and Dustin Smith of North Platte; siblings Roger (Dale Marie) Story of Kansas City, KS, Neoma (Leo) Davis of Cozad, and David (Linda) Story of Sarasota, FL; grandkids, Alayne Wenz, Shane, Shelby, and Seabreanna Marshall; and many more family and friends whose lives she touched.

She is preceded in death by her parents Lee and Lucille Story and grandchild Dayton Wentz.

A funeral service will be held Monday, January 5, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Douglas Lee officiating. Burial will follow at Cozad Cemetery. A visitation with family receiving friends will be held Sunday, January 4, 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home, which has been entrusted with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family for future designation. Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared at adamsswanson.com.