Gordon Smith

Gordon LeRoy Smith, age 64 of Parowan, Utah, passed away June 11 in the early morning hours in the Burley, Idaho hospital. He was on his way home from a crabbing, clamming, and fishing trip on the Oregon Coast. His cause of death was respiratory failure.
Gordon was born March 17, 1961, in Cedar City, Utah. He was the second son of Merlene Evans Smith and Fred DeLoy Smith. Gordy loved to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. He would always cook up a pot of corned beef and cabbage on his birthday.
Gordon went to schools in Beaver, Utah where he spent all his youth. He worked for Union Pacific Railroad even as a teenager. He had a special knack for operating laser alignment machinery for the tracks of the railroad. This stint of employment took him wherever Union Pacific had tracks. Some of his favorite places in the west are where his job took him. The Feather River Canyon in California was one of his favorites.
He married Lisa Mancke in the Beaver Canyon at His uncle Al and aunt Laree's home. To this union three daughters were born. Brandy, Brook, and Misty. They later divorced. Gordon was also blessed with a son named Cameron and a daughter before these sisters were born. Her name is Tavanna Williams. Tavanna has blessed Gordon with four grandchildren. Cameron has a son.
Gordon's employment opportunities included Grand Canyon mule guide, wilderness guide, and many exploration excursions. He was made famous for "Gordons Panel" in the Grand Canyon. He worked as a wrangler and appeared in magazines and television commercials depicted as a real cowboy. He trained saddle horses as well as racehorses. Gordon was never far from the cowboy life. He loved the outdoors and spent more money on gasoline exploring the outdoors than any man I ever met. For several years Gordon has made a living cutting and sawing walnut trees to be made into gunstocks. His customers include many production rifle and shotgun makers. He has coined the phrase "museum quality" to describe the English Walnut slabs he is currently cutting and selling.
Grandpa Arshell Evans got him hooked on rock hounding as a youngster in Minersville, Utah. He would help Grandpa Arsh grind his favorite rocks to powder to pan for gold. Gordy loved to chase that glitter. Arsh's old grinding steel is sitting on Gordons front porch today as it is too heavy to steal. Gordon couldn't lift it but loved to twist it.
Gordon loved the life of a teenager in Beaver. Gordy and Hank could spend weeks up South Creek at Ranger's Pasture during school breaks trapping bobcats and ring-tailed cats for their furs. His father (Fred) had a Cessna airplane that Gordy loved to fly with his dad in the air. One tragic morning Fred and Gordon and faithful Springer Spaniel Zeke went for a little day trip that ended with the carburetor failing and crashing the airplane. All ended well with a few bumps and bruises and a howling dog.
Gordon loved to be outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, prospecting, exploring hidden canyons and discovering places few white men dared step. Gordon always shared his discoveries. Even venturing into the Grand Canyon in his off time from guiding mule trail rides on his favorite mule. He ventured into the Tuck Up canyon with rock art specialists to witness for themselves the wonders on the walls. He was given credit for finding "Gordons Panel" also known today as "Shamans Panel".
Gordon may not have looked like a religious man but took joy in Baptizing his girls into the church. He had many religious leaders that enjoyed his company on Sundays. He was very proud of his LDS heritage that brought his ancestors to Southern Utah. He loved LDS history if it involved Porter Rockwell and California Gold.
Gordon always had a knack to involve cousins or Uncles in his excursions. His stories were so preposterous but always had a percentage of the truth. He said to have witnessed Big Foot and was confronted by a Grizzly Bear in the California Mountains. His was never far from a can of bear spray.
Gordon is survived by his dad Fred, brother Greg (Michelle) Smith, sister Lori Ann (Bob) Buettner, nieces, nephews, great- nieces and great-nephews.
Gordon was preceded in death by his mother Merlene Evans Smith Lowell, her parents Arshall and Leila Davis Evans. His paternal Grandparents, Roy and Anona Swindlehurst Smith.
A viewing for Gordon will be held from 9:00 to 10:30 AM on Thursday the 19th of June, 2025, followed by the funeral at 11:00 AM to celebrate his life. Services will be held at Southern Utah Mortuary (200 West 200 North) in Beaver, Utah. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery at noon at 500 North 500 East in Beaver, Utah.