Albon Smith

Albon Llewellyn Smith was born fourth in a family of 11 children to David Smith and Emily Hancock Smith on August 11, 1919. He lived his whole life right here in his beloved Idaho Falls, until he passed away at home Wednesday, July 17, 2013, just shy of his 94th birthday. He was blessed to leave this world with his beloved companion of 67 years, Mary Elizabeth Hansen, curled up next to him and the room packed with loved ones from both heaven and earth.

What a full and exciting life he has lived! He served an LDS mission to Germany and the Eastern States, was captain of a trucking company in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and came home to fall in love-at-first-sight with his sweetheart, whom he married May 31, 1946, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple.

He took on the task of raising 10 children, built the Smith Chevrolet car company from the ground up with his father, played bassoon in the Idaho Falls Symphony for 23 years, was active in Scouting (serving as president of the Teton Peaks Council, earning the Silver Beaver award, and leading some 17 sons and grandsons to be Eagle Scouts), was very involved in genealogy and served in numerous church positions (including stake missionary, bishop, high councilor and as a missionary with Mary in the London England Mission). He filled any gaps with riding Arabian horses with his family, reading Louis L'Amour novels and getting us to watch a good "ripsnortin" Western movie with him.

Albon and Mary's posterity has grown to 172 so far, including 59 grandchildren and 66 great-grandchildren, with three on the way. We know he will be watching out for us all as keenly in death as he did in life.

We thank Daddy for many gifts: first and foremost for our love of our Heavenly Father, our Savior Jesus Christ and the Good News of the Gospel; for giving us living proof that "in love" really can last forever; that like our dad, we cannot lift our eyes to Old Glory without a surge of tender emotion; that great music has found a home somewhere deep within our souls; that through his "20-minute jobs," he passed on to us his extraordinary capacity for work; for showing us that one can stand alone against the fiercest of winds; for childhoods jam-packed with reasons to smile; for countless examples of simple faith in action, allowing us to witness miracles; for showing us that with vision, great things can be accomplished against impossible odds; that popping off funnies can get you through just about anything, including his exit from this world; for his belief that his warm gloves were always more needed on someone else's hands; for his unwillingness to hold a grudge and his willingness to keep his hand open wide because "it's all the Lord's, anyway"; and for leaving us without a doubt that he dearly loved each one of us.

We, his posterity, pledge in gratitude that we will stand on his broad and remarkable shoulders and keep on building, because that's what he would do.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Hansen Smith of Idaho Falls; daughters, Catherine (Jud) Miller of Rigby, Claudia (Randall) King of Idaho Falls, Shirley L. Smith of Menan and Heather (Andre) Linchenko of Idaho Falls; sons, Damian C. (Paula) Smith of Salt Lake City, Stafford L. (Shelly) Smith of Idaho Falls, Woodruff D. (Dawn) Smith of Rexburg, Nathan W. (Kimberly) Smith of Idaho Falls and Cameron W. (Honica) Smith of Idaho Falls; and sisters, Rayola Wanlass of Idaho Falls, LaPrele (Ron) Pond of Idaho Falls and JoAnn (Wilford) Ruf of Fountain Green, Utah.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a beloved son, Albon Llewellyn Smith Jr.; a stillborn daughter, Emily Marian; three brothers, Harlin, Dale and McKay; and four sisters, Esther Stosich, Lorraine Wilkinson, Carol Thompson and Jeanne Ellis.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 22, at the Iona LDS Stake Center, 7555 E. 55th North, with Bishop Brandon Anderson of the Iona 3rd Ward officiating. The family will visit with friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road, and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the stake center. Military rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and Idaho Honor Guard, with burial in Fielding Memorial Park.

Condolences or special memories may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.

Family tribute