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Jerry Smithey Obituary
Jerry Andrew Smithey, born October 18, 1943, to Jerry Deroy Smithey and Patricia Carmen Castro, in Orange, California, passed away at the age of 82 on December 30, 2025.
He is survived by his wife, Pam Smithey, sons Trent Smithey (Cindy) from Sapulpa, Ok, and Chris Smithey from Tulsa, Ok along with his daughter, Nicole Smithey from Sand Springs, Oklahoma. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Sonora and Dakota Reagh and Nate Smithey, as well as his sisters, Juanita Smithey and Johanna Flores both from Santa Ana, California, and Valerie Koeninger of Lubbock, Texas, as well as his brother Jeff Smithey (Debbie) of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He leaves behind several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by both his parents as well as his step mother, Sarah Smithey; step father, Bob Dethlefsen; sister, Judy Smithey; brother, Michael Smithey; and brother, Robert Dethlefsen. His step father got him involved in sports which Jerry said probably kept him out of jail as he was quite the rambunctious teenager!
His get togethers with his cousins on both sides of the family and friends were always filled with stories of their adventures as teenagers and young men. It's a wonder any of them made it to adulthood!
He graduated from Santa Ana High School in 1961, and found hustling pool during his first year of junior college more fun than actually studying and attending class. He realized if he did not straighten up he was in for a very bad life, so he joined the Air Force and spent 3 years at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. He learned the German language and was involved with the small town he lived in with his first wife, Leanne. Although he loved Germany and the people he met, he was homesick and returned to Southern California to pursue a business degree at Cal State Fullerton.
Jerry spent a large part of his life in the scrap recycling business due to his father's passion for the industry and became part of the industry when he went to work for his father in Oklahoma City and then Tulsa. He opened his first business, Associated Recycling, Inc. on August 1, 1981 and grew the company until June 30, 1997 when he sold to a local company. His next adventure would be opening Smithey Environmental Services LLC on May 19, 1997, a commercial trash hauling and end dump service company. The company expanded to Oklahoma City in 2025 and brought more opportunities for the company to grow than just the Tulsa area. Like his father, work was his life, other than golf!
He made many friends at Tulsa Country Club where he was a member for over 35 years, and enjoyed numerous rounds of golf. He enjoyed traveling to tournaments and especially the trips to Tucson, Arizona for friendly competitions with his TCC buddies.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or First Tee of Tulsa.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 10, 2026 at the Vista at 21, 21 North Greenwood, Tulsa, Oklahoma from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
He is survived by his wife, Pam Smithey, sons Trent Smithey (Cindy) from Sapulpa, Ok, and Chris Smithey from Tulsa, Ok along with his daughter, Nicole Smithey from Sand Springs, Oklahoma. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Sonora and Dakota Reagh and Nate Smithey, as well as his sisters, Juanita Smithey and Johanna Flores both from Santa Ana, California, and Valerie Koeninger of Lubbock, Texas, as well as his brother Jeff Smithey (Debbie) of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He leaves behind several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by both his parents as well as his step mother, Sarah Smithey; step father, Bob Dethlefsen; sister, Judy Smithey; brother, Michael Smithey; and brother, Robert Dethlefsen. His step father got him involved in sports which Jerry said probably kept him out of jail as he was quite the rambunctious teenager!
His get togethers with his cousins on both sides of the family and friends were always filled with stories of their adventures as teenagers and young men. It's a wonder any of them made it to adulthood!
He graduated from Santa Ana High School in 1961, and found hustling pool during his first year of junior college more fun than actually studying and attending class. He realized if he did not straighten up he was in for a very bad life, so he joined the Air Force and spent 3 years at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. He learned the German language and was involved with the small town he lived in with his first wife, Leanne. Although he loved Germany and the people he met, he was homesick and returned to Southern California to pursue a business degree at Cal State Fullerton.
Jerry spent a large part of his life in the scrap recycling business due to his father's passion for the industry and became part of the industry when he went to work for his father in Oklahoma City and then Tulsa. He opened his first business, Associated Recycling, Inc. on August 1, 1981 and grew the company until June 30, 1997 when he sold to a local company. His next adventure would be opening Smithey Environmental Services LLC on May 19, 1997, a commercial trash hauling and end dump service company. The company expanded to Oklahoma City in 2025 and brought more opportunities for the company to grow than just the Tulsa area. Like his father, work was his life, other than golf!
He made many friends at Tulsa Country Club where he was a member for over 35 years, and enjoyed numerous rounds of golf. He enjoyed traveling to tournaments and especially the trips to Tucson, Arizona for friendly competitions with his TCC buddies.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or First Tee of Tulsa.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 10, 2026 at the Vista at 21, 21 North Greenwood, Tulsa, Oklahoma from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Published by Tulsa World on Jan. 7, 2026.
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