Dr. Kevin Anthony Smith

Dr. Kevin Anthony SMITH A loving, compassionate, uplifting, and determined man, passed away Sunday, December 10, 2006, in Bellevue, Washington, after post-operative complications. Kevin, 48, resided in Sammamish, and is survived by his wife, Susann, and their 3 daughters, Julianne Lyon Lewis of Houston, Texas, Shannon Yeshe Cornelius of Provo, Utah, and Jacoba Rose Smith, 1 son, Kooper Charles Smith, 2 sons-in-law, Michael J. Lewis and RC Mitchell Cornelius, and 3 grandchildren, Brendan, Audrey, and Madeline Lewis. Kevin was born on January 14, 1958, in Los Angeles, California, and adopted by Donald Irving Smith and Norma Shirly Smith of Torrance, California, where he grew up. Kevin became an extraordinary trumpet player and enjoyed many school activities centered on music, one of the great loves of his life. He and his first wife, Antoinette, adopted Kooper and Jacoba in 1995, and he delighted in being a father. Family is his greatest treasure. Antoinette passed away after 6 years of illness in March of 2003, and in July of 2003, Kevin married Susann Parmly in the Seattle Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Their relationship brought him great joy. A deeply religious man, he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1986 and served in many positions over the years. He lived according to his priorities: serving God, wife, children, extended family, and community. He found great joy in helping others, and this led his profession to a place where he could counsel and guide others in how to build financial independence. Always eager to expand his capacity, he simultaneously earned an MD as a Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon and Ph.D. in Plasma Physics at UCLA, and was a Rhodes Scholar. He practiced surgery at Cedars-Sinai and UCLA Medical Center briefly, and then consulted to the Rand Corporation. Additionally, he earned an M.B.A. at UCLA and worked with NASA where he designed the Solar Arrays for the International Space Station and coordinated the Space Shuttle mission that deployed them. A composer and songwriter, he wrote extensively for well-known films, TV series, and artists. He leaves behind a legacy of dedication to God, family, and community that will continue to uplift others through the years. He was an adventurer in travel and in thought, a family man, composer, patriot, photographer, physician, poet, scientist, server, and songwriter. The credo he lived was "Happy wife, happy life." One always felt uplifted after interacting with him. He is greatly loved and greatly missed. Services and Interment were held on December 16 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Duthie Hill Rd., Issaquah, Washington, and Hillside Cemetery in Issaquah. Donations to an education fund for Kooper and Jacoba will be gratefully accepted at Wells Fargo Bank to the "Memorial for Kevin Smith for the benefit of Kooper and Jacoba."