Thayne Smith

Thayne Clark Smith, 88, passed away Thursday, January 31, 2013 at his home in Kanab, Utah following a brief illness.

He leaves his wife of 65 years, Georgia Joan "Jo" (Johnson) Smith; his daughter Michele Davis and her husband, Willie, his daughter, Denise "Tye" Smith, his son, Eric Smith and his wife; Karin, his sister, Alaska Richards; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Another son, Kurtis Fredric Smith preceded his father in death as well as Thayne's siblings; Dee Shumway, Owen Smith, Kent Smith, Gennett Smith, Thomas Smith & Nedra Swapp.

Born and raised in Henrieville, he was the sixth of Thomas and Minnie (Clark) Smith's eight children. Thayne was a longtime resident of Kanab. In his early years, he helped herd sheep with his brothers. He attended elementary school in Henrieville and junior high school in nearby Cannonville and moved to Kanab for high school, living with his sister Nedra and Tuffy Swapp and their family. After graduating from Kanab High School in 1942 he attended a semester at BYU. After enlisting in the Navy he served on three ships, including the seaplane tender, USS San Carlos, and spent eighteen months in the South Pacific Theatre during World War II.

After discharge from the military, he returned to Utah. Thayne and Jo married in Elko, Nevada in 1947. They were sealed in the Frankfurt, Germany LDS Temple in 1997.

Following three years in the military, Thayne continued his education at the University of Utah, graduating with a composite degree in anthropology, history, and sociology. He also received a degree in education and taught school in Price, Hatch and later in Southern California.

After a temporary holiday job in retail, Thayne decided to make it his career and spent the next 23 years with Sears, working in a number of different capacities including management. In 1975 he returned to Kanab to combine his gardening hobby with his business experience. He operated the Green Thumb Nursery for 15 years.

A passion for serving the community was evident throughout his life. Thayne was a life-member of the Kanab Lions Club, the Sons of the Utah Pioneers, and the American Legion. He served also on the Kane County Planning Commission for 22 years, 20 as president. Thayne held various callings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often utilizing his teaching experience and love of history.

Thayne was a key participant, along with boyhood friend Larry Little, in organizing the Kane County Hospital Auxiliary and it's Thrift Shop, which has now raised over a million dollars for the hospital. An avid history buff and genealogist, Thayne coordinated activities at Johnson Canyon Cemetery to verify burials and erect a monument. At Pahreah Cemetery he worked with BLM representatives to map grave locations, fence the area and erect other monuments.

A trip to visit his aunt's family at age five ignited a love of travel. Thayne journeyed extensively both in the US and out, visiting nearly 80 countries with his wife. Another passion was bringing people together: he coordinated many reunions for various ancestral families, his elementary school, high school class, navy shipmates and fellow Sears's retirees. He enjoyed early western movies from the 40s and 50s, reading Louis L'Amour novels and always more history books.

Please join us for one more reunion to say 'auf Wiedersehen' to my husband, our dad, our granddad, our uncle, our cousin, and our awesome friend at the LDS South Chapel at 550 S 100 East in Kanab on Monday, February 4 at 11:00 AM. Viewings will be held Sunday, February 3rd from 7 to 8 PM at Mosdell Mortuary, 676 S 175 East, Kanab, and Monday from 10 to 10:45 am at the church.