Jim Smith's Obituary
Jim Smith, husband, brother, father, grandfather, great grandfather, soldier, master
craftsman, entrepreneur, leader in his church, and a man of God.
Jim was born in the heart of the depression, shortly after what we commonly refer to as the “Greatest Generation,” but he was definitely cut from the same cloth. God, Country, Family.
He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Carol. Family was important to him and their blended family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, (too numerous to mention all here), will miss him dearly. He was patient, resilient and loving through his patronage of the family.
Born in a small farming community, his mother widowed and a sibling to care for, Jim did not shirk his duty to family. He performed numerous odd jobs. Work that many Americans today are unwilling or incapable of doing.
In his teens Jim joined the Army. There is some question of the appropriateness of his age requirement. The Army was aware of country boys’ familiarity with guns and if you were willing to slog through the mud with a rifle, you were welcome.
Jim “Mustanged” his way to Major by the time he finished his military career. He served two tours in Vietnam, the first a non-com officer serving as Air Traffic Controller. Between tours he attended Officer Candidate School and then trained as a helicopter pilot. Returning to Vietnam, Jim was responsible for nine airfields. Flying ‘In Country’ between multiple airbases during on-going combat operations was not for the faint of heart. He was awarded numerous medals. Jim however rarely spoke about his courage and bravery, this was inconsequential compared to the welfare of his men. He remembered well cutting his teeth as a buck private before becoming an officer. One of his fondest memories was the Christmas Jim and staff flew for two days nonstop delivering gifts to the bases under his control.
The war ended and due to the military downsizing, so did Jim’s military career. Jim
retired from the military and moved to Utah. That did not mean he was about to sit in the shade drinking lemonade. A man, who grew up in a small potato farming community in Idaho was incapable of retiring, which incidentally, he never did. There was no such thing as quit in his vocabulary. Jim operated several businesses honing his skill to become a master craftsman. His business, Absolutely Terrific Toys, allowed him to pour all his skill, determination, persistence, and entrepreneurialism to profitably produce unique, handcrafted, heirloom quality wooden toys. Jim toiled in his beloved workshop until several months before his passing.
Jim’s no quit battle with cancer would have claimed most men years earlier. Finally, after 89 years of perpetual motion the Lord called Jim Alan Smith home.
Looking at Jim’s life and body of work, he earned a place within America’s “GREATEST GENERATION.”
What’s your fondest memory of Jim?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jim?
Share a story where Jim's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jim you’ll never forget.
How did Jim make you smile?