Kent DeLoy Smith

Our beloved patriarch, Kent DeLoy Smith, peacefully returned to his Heavenly home on September 29, 2023 with his loving wife by his side. He was born on April 4, 1938 to Charles Lyle and Lucille Marion Johnson Smith. He was the second of four children and had an ideal childhood in his beloved Draper, Utah. Kent was a Draper boy through and through.

Kent graduated from Jordan High School in 1956 where he loved to play football. He then went on to play at Dixie College in St. George, Utah where he made some of his choicest, lifelong friends. Kent served an honorable mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the South Africa mission. Upon his return he attended the University of Utah where he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree. He later went on to earn his Master’s Degree from BYU. Kent taught at Murray High School for 37 years. During his tenure at Murray High he coached many sports including football, golf and wrestling.

Kent married his eternal sweetheart in the Salt Lake Temple in April 1964 and together they raised nine “perfect” children, according to him. He never missed the opportunity to tell people about his nine wonderful children.

In order to support his large family on a school teacher’s salary, Kent taught Driver’s Ed before and after school, he became a master tile setter, and he set up a firework stand each July. Anything he could do, he did, so that his wife could stay home and raise their growing family.

Kent drew up the plans for his home and built the house almost single handedly, spending hours after work and every Saturday there for months on end. It became, and still is, the gathering place for his large and growing posterity.

Kent loved his annual family trip to Bear Lake where he would be up at the break of dawn getting breakfast started for 50+ people. Bear Lake was a place where he could be surrounded by family, sit around the campfire and enjoy the lovely peacefulness of the lake.

Kent was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings throughout his life. He served in the Jordan River Temple and both he and mom loved their time serving as temple workers in the Draper Temple for over 15 years. Dad was a man of quiet faith and service. He led by example and taught his family to love the Lord.

In their later years, Kent and Beth Ann served a mission in the Salt Lake Inner City Project which they extended multiple times. They made many good friends there.

Kent loved BYU Football, golf, gardening, baking and deep frying anything that could be breaded, but nothing held a candle to the love he had for his family. They were his number one.

We will miss his dry sense of humor, his gentle smile, a big hug, a quick phone call just to see how you were doing, hearing the words “I’ll see you in the funny papers” or “there’s old what’s her name.” Farewell until we meet again!

Kent is preceded in death by his parents, one brother and several in-laws. He is survived by his eternal sweetheart, BethAnn and his 9 children: Lisa (Scott) Cederlof, Susan Harding, Michael (Mischele) Smith, David (Nina) Smith, Cynthia (Chad) Carman, Mark (Maylene) Smith, Allison (Jeremy) Davenport, Kimberlee, Lindsey (George) Patterson, 37 grandchildren, 11 great-grand children with 3 more on the way. He is also survived by his brother LaMont and sister Colleen.

The family wishes to extend a huge thanks to their very special neighbor, Lisa Cloward, for her tender loving care. They would also like to thank Rachel and Victoria from Intermountain Health Services for their compassion and care. A special thank you to our own special angel, daughter Kimberlee, who lovingly cared for dad with both the love of a daughter and skill of a professional, allowing us to keep Dad at home with Mom until the end.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 14, 2023, 11:00 am at the Draper 17th Ward LDS Meeting House, 1617 E 12700 S, Draper. A viewing will be held Friday, October 13, 2023, 6-8 at Anderson & Goff Mortuary, 11859 S 700 E, Draper, and Saturday at the church, 9:30-10:30 am prior to the service. Interment will be at the Draper City Cemetery following the services.

The service will be livestreamed on the Anderson & Goff Mortuary Facebook Page at the following link: 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Anderson-Goff-Mortuary-293949407707203/ 
(The livestream video will appear when the service starts.)