It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Mary Lynn (Chris) Boyd on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at the age of 78. To those who knew her she had an inner spirit much younger than her 78 years. Chris’ final days were spent peacefully visited by family and close friends. Her husband, Al, was blessed to have spent 49 years by her side; their love and devotion to each other was very special. She loved nature, including sailing in the Caribbean and also on their own sail boat on Watts Bar Lake. She was a frequent visitor to the mountains just to take in the beauty of nature and she loved animals, especially her two brother and sister cats, Jack and Luna. She loved her church and church family at Grace Presbyterian Church, 1610 Midpark Road in Knoxville.

In addition to her husband, Al, she leaves to mourn her passing her sister Karen and her husband Dirk Van Hoesen; sister in law Tina Ailshie; nephew Justin Dunaway and his wife Angela; great-niece Sydney Dunaway and her fiancée Luke Denney; niece Alyson Cutshall and her husband Stephen and their son MacCormack; and very special friends Debby and Mackey Brownlee, Debbie and Mitch Ingman, Sarah Doyle and Robert Apley, and Becky and Sandy Burnett who helped greatly during Chris’ final days. Chris was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Christiansen, her father Clarence Christiansen, and her brother, Eric Christiansen.

A Celebration of Life will be held on April 11 at 3:00 pm at Grace Presbyterian Church, 1610 Midpark Road, Knoxville, TN 37921. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Grace Presbyterian Church.

Condolences may be shared at Smith Funeral & Cremation, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.smithfuneralandcremation.com