Rick Smith

Rick Smith
1971 - 2023
Rick Smith was born on December 30, 1971, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He passed away at his home, surrounded by family on September 16, 2023. Rick was the oldest child of Beverly Feraco. He was raised in the greater Salt Lake City area with his sister, Nichole, and was eventually blessed with a stepfather, Larry Feraco, and two more siblings, Jonathan Feraco and Mindy Echegaray. Rick always expressed immense gratitude and love for the relationship he had with his Grandpa Gerald and Grandma Alice Kirk, whom he spent a lot of time with while growing up.
Rick spent many of his younger years involved in various sports and fell in love with soccer at an early age. He was known to be one of the fastest players on the field and one of the best trash talkers, a talent he carried with him throughout life. His love of soccer translated into adulthood as he spent many years playing and training with his children, pushing them to be their best while enjoying the time it allowed them to spend together.
In 1997, Khounekham Phathammavong walked into the tire shop that Rick was working at. On a $100 bet from his friend, Rick approached Khoune to try and get her number. She happily allowed him to assist with her vehicle, and only after Rick's unwavering persistence did she decide to give him her number. He not only won the bet but also won the love of his life that day. One year later Rick and Khoune were married in Provo, Utah.
Upon marrying Khoune, Rick became a father to Kamiekca Phathammavong, a role that he cherished to the very end. Rick and Khoune welcomed two more children into their family in the following years: Shaykayla, born in 1998, and Chaz, who joined the family in 2002.
Rick spent his career in the automotive industry, which allowed his charismatic personality and big energy to take center stage. He genuinely enjoyed serving his customers and working to meet their needs to the best of his abilities. Rick was known as the "Car Guy" to all who knew him and seemed to always have a helpful answer and witty response to all of his clients' questions. During his career, he worked in sales, service, and owned a car lot for several years while starting multiple other business ventures. He cherished all of the connections and friendships he made through his work and spent hours chatting on the phone and spending time with clients, colleagues, and friends.
Rick had an innate ability to make everyone around him feel special and fostered a genuine desire to get to know nearly everyone he met. He enjoyed getting to know people from all walks of life, regardless of their background, and many of those around him have experienced his generous heart and forgiving nature. His larger-than-life persona was magnetic, and he was often known as the 'life of the party.' His sense of people allowed him to make a positive impact not only on his family and friends, but also on the various people that he would meet day to day.
At the top of Rick's priority list were always his wife and children. When speaking with Rick it never took long for him to start talking about the latest developments in his children's and grandchildren's lives, and how proud he was of his kids. Some of his favorite memories were made with his family on vacation in California, as Rick was always happiest near the ocean. Summers were often spent on his boat, fishing, listening to music, and laughing with his loved ones.
His infectious laugh, big smile, and goofy dance moves serve as an inspiration and reminder to always approach life with energy, enthusiasm, and a sense of humor.
Rick is survived by his wife, Khoune Smith, his children Kamiekca Phathammavong (Hao), Shaykayla Smith (Jevin), and Chaz Smith, his grandchildren Jada Phathammavong, Jaleah Tran, Janiyah Tran, and Jayahna Tran, his mother Beverly Feraco (Larry), and his siblings Nichole Gunther (Todd), Mindy Echegaray (Jose), and Jonathan Feraco. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Gerald and Alice Kirk, and his uncle Danny Smith.
Services are as follows:
Public Viewings, Saturday, September 23, 2023, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 1007 S Jordan Pkwy, South Jordan, UT 84095
Funeral Services, Saturday, September 23, 2023, 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 1007 S Jordan Pkwy, South Jordan, UT 84095