Christie (Chris) Best

Our beautiful daughter, Chris, was born to her loving parents, Don and Alice Best, on February 20, 1963. She was a lifelong resident of Albuquerque where she graduated from Sandia High School in 1981. She was a very gifted athlete and became an accomplished track star where she won the title of the NM State Champion in the high jump category. Chris continued to be an athlete her entire life and was proficient in any sport she participated in. For the past five years has been training and competing in Agility with her beloved standard poodles, Eliza and Compostela. It takes years of hard work and dedication to become adept in this and Chris gave everything to be with her girls. On January 23, 2015, Chris competed in an agility competition with Eliza where she earned a qualifying score on her last run of the day. Chris was elated and celebrated by going to lunch and shopping with her mother and boyfriend. After returning home, Chris laid down to take a short nap after her exertions and excitement of the morning. To our greatest shock and sorrow, Chris never woke up and died peacefully in her sleep. She was the most beloved, fun loving, compassionate and positive person that anyone could ever have had the good fortune to have known. For 20 years, Chris was the dental assistant for Dr. Rex Wagner and continued in the dental industry working for Dr. John Bowers and Dr. Jennifer Oki. She excelled at her job and was extremely dedicated and devoted to her patients who also loved her dearly. Chris is survived by two siblings, Don Best and his wife, Pathira and Cindy Beall and her husband, Troy. She is also survived by her beloved two nephews, Clinton Beall, and Donavan Best, and one niece, Dr. Brittany Beall who blessed Chris with a great niece, Alice Luna Beall on November 23, 2014. She also leaves behind her soulmate and best friend, Augie Chapa, who will forever be a part of our family and is also devastated by the loss of his love. For our family, the light of our lives has been extinguished forever. Our only comfort is the certainty that Chris will forever be an Angel looking over her loved ones until we meet again. A Celebration of Life Service will be Thursday, January 29, 2015, 6:00 p.m. at FRENCH - Lomas. Mass of the Resurrection will be Friday, January 30, 2015, 9:00 a.m. at The Shrine of St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 11401 Indian School Road NE. Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Animal Humane Society, 615 Virginia St. SE, Alb. NM 87108 or the New Mexico Mission of Mercy, PO Box 16854, Albuquerque, NM 87191.