James “Jim” Irwin Smith

JAMES I SMITH died on June 21, 2018 in South Jordan, Utah from Renal Cell Carcinoma, at the age of 85. Jim was born in Pontiac, Michigan on January 2, 1933 to Albert E. Smith and Stella Viola Husted. He spent his growing up years on a small farm in Clarkston, Michigan. He married Betty Ellen Sturdevant in 1953 (deceased). They had three children; Mark Evan Smith (Brenda) of Howell, MI, Brian Keith Smith (Cathleen) of Durango, CO and Kari Sue Wittbrodt (Kevin) of Warren, MI. On August 17, 2000 he married Peggy Ann Mueller Lassiter and added two children to the Family, W. Kim Smith (Jewel) of Herriman, UT. and Glenn Smith (Wendy) of Lehi, UT. He had 16 Grand Children and 23 Great Grand Children. Jim was an athlete starting in his youth until a few weeks before his passing. In High School he played football, basketball, baseball and did track, his specialty was the Javelin. He played Baseball and Softball for many years and taught his children to play, coaching them as well. In 1969 he was part of the Michigan/Ohio State Boys Championship sending a few of the boys from his team (including his son Keith) to compete. He coached the girls’ softball team to World Champs in 1979. He was honored for 20 years of service with Gaylord Little League. He also played on the Casa Grande Softball league into his late 70’s, he loved playing right field and never missed a ball. He loved his Golf and had two groups of men he golfed with on a regular basis that he became very close to. He was proud of the ‘Hole-in-One” he got in Casa Grande Arizona at the age of 78. Pickleball became his new favorite in his later years. He played weekly, sometimes two or three times a week, with his friends from the South Jordan Senior Center. He loved to watch sports, of course the Utah Jazz but he was a Michigan Fan at heart; University of Michigan, Michigan State-his favorite, Detroit Lions and Pistons! The only time he didn’t root for a Utah team was if they were playing Michigan, then he’d have to switch hats!
If he wasn’t watching sports he was at his computer searching out his roots! He grew to really love doing Genealogy, a hobby he and Peggy shared. He had traced relatives clear back to 200AD. Outside the back door at their home in South Jordan is a small but meticulous garden that he loved to spend time in, the peach tree was another story, he spent hours trying to thin out the over-growth, keep the tree branches from getting too heavy and trying to divert the bugs!
Theatre was another great love and he really made his characters come alive. He played many roles from The Drunken Sheriff and Papa Vino to his stellar performance as Lucille Ball. Come Halloween he got right into one of his favorite frightful characters.
He served in the Military starting his career in the Navy ROTC at Clarkston High School where he graduated and remained in the National Reserves until 1951 at which time (instead of going to school on his football scholarship) joined the Air Force where he was a Sargent and served in the 325th Air Force Squadron a McCord Air Force Base. He also served with the Military Police at Camp Williams and while serving in Korea. He received several medals of honor including; National Defense Service Metal, Good Conduct Medal, United Nations Medal, Korean Service Medal with 3 Battle Stars and was awarded the Unit Presidential Citation. He was proud to serve his country in the Korean War.
He started a Credit Union in Gaylord, Michigan, worked at Met-life for several years, received an Associate Degree in Business and in his 40’s went to nursing school and became an LPN. He was one of the founders of the ‘Dixie Baptist Church’ in Clarkston Michigan. He served his community while in Gaylord, Michigan as President of Junior Achievement, President of Jaycees and the PTA and Chairman of the Democratic Party.
At the time of his death he was a member of the Mountain View United Methodist Church and enjoyed the friendships in his church family. Jim is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Peggy, children, grand-children and great- grand- children. He is also survived by his sister Etta Walker (James, deceased). Proceeded in death by his first wife, Betty Ellen, and his sister Clara Sexton Herr.
We would like to thank the doctors and nurses at the VA Hospital and the Hospice Home Health team for all the care they have gave him throughout his illness. Jim will be missed by all who knew him.
A memorial service will be held at Memorial Redwood Mortuary on July 3, 2018 at 11 AM with a friends and family gathering one-hour prior.
Service Information
Viewing July 3, 2018 at 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Family and Friends Gathering
Memorial Redwood Mortuary and Cemetery 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah 84123





Memorial Service
July 3, 2018 at 11:00 AM
Memorial Redwood Mortuary and Cemetery 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah 84123