Rocky LeRoy Smith

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Rocky LeRoy Smith, who died peacefully at home in his sleep on November 24, 2024, at the age of 89. Rocky was born on June 25, 1935, in San Luis Obispo, CA, to Charles LeRoy Smith and Hazel Vernell Ferguson, the oldest of 3 children. 

His earliest childhood memory is crawling under the porch of his grandparent’s house and drinking from a bottle he found there. Turns out it was strychnine. He remembers telling his mom, “Mee tummys erts.” He doesn’t remember what was done for him but figures they must have done something right since he lived to a “ripe old age.”

With his dad working in the logging industry they moved often, from California to Oregon to Idaho, where he graduated from high school in 1953 from Riggins High School. He lettered in football and softball but his favorite “sport” of all was marbles. He would take a few marbles to school and come home with his pockets full of them. When he was a kid he said, “I would rather play marbles than eat.” His love of marbles continued throughout his life. Even in his 80’s he carried marbles in his pockets to let people know he “hadn’t lost his marbles”.

When he was 21 he was involved in a logging accident. As his logging truck was being unloaded, the last log came crashing down on him. He awoke in the hospital 10 days later with a broken back and internal injuries. This accident might have later saved his life as he was called up in the draft but due to the injuries sustained in this accident he was disqualified from military service. He had mixed feelings about this but remained deeply devoted to his country and the constitution his entire life.

He met the love of his life, Barbara Jean Cutler, while he was hauling logs to her father’s sawmill in Cambridge, Idaho. It was her family that introduced him to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was baptized at the age of 29 by Barbara’s dad and a few months later, he also performed their marriage ceremony, on April 20, 1965. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake City temple on April 8, 1966. He remained a faithful member of the church his entire life.

He is survived by his children: Lester Smith, Julene (William) Slora; Rocky (Anne) Smith; Marcene (Shawn) Nielson; Tory (Andrea) Smith; Cameron (Debra) Smith; Tanya (Brigham) Hubbard; 21 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren with 3 more on the way. He is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara and son, Randall.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the Huntsman Cancer Center and Aegis hospice for their caring service.

A visitation will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. at the Hyde Park Stake Center at 535 E 200 S in Hyde Park, UT with the funeral to follow at 11:00 a.m. A graveside service and burial will be held at the Bramwell Cemetery, 7425 Mustang Ln, Emmett, ID on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 10:00 am. 

Rocky's funeral service can be viewed via Zoom at: CLICK HERE TO WATCH SERVICE VIA ZOOM