Glori Hodge Smith

Passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on July 7, 2024.

Glori was born on October 8, 1958, in Newburgh, New York, the fourth of five children, including Glenn, Gail, Gay, and Glenda, to Campbell and Boots (Beulah) Hodge. Six months later, the family relocated to Alaska where they eventually settled in Anchorage. 

Growing up, Glori enjoyed skiing, Highland dancing, cheerleading, and gymnastics.

She was introduced to the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ by many friends during her childhood. She was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Dec 29, 1973, along with her future husband Ken Smith, his brother Kelly, and her lifelong friend Diana Wing (Wilson). 

Glori graduated high school a year early and married Ken on June 6, 1975. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple three days later on June 9.

Glori and Ken first lived in Healy, Alaska for 11 months where Ken had a construction job with the Alaska Railroad System, then relocated and started building a home in Anchorage. It was there that she became mother to four children, Glori Ann in 1976, Amber in 1978, Kenny in 1981, and Katie in 1983. 

Glori had a lifelong passion for learning and always wanted to be a teacher; she started classes at the University of Alaska-Anchorage in 1985, subsequently moving her family to Provo, Utah, where she and Ken continued their education at Brigham Young University. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in 1990, and began teaching at Timpview High School, a career that would extend for 30 years. During that time, she taught English as a Second Language, Russian, Government, History, and English. During her tenure at Timpview, she was recognized as a compassionate teacher who always noticed and helped students who needed it most. She went on to get a master's degree at BYU in 2009, and a doctorate from Utah State University in 2015. She was always interested in teaching other teachers and worked in the Department of Teacher Education at BYU for three years. 

She became a grandmother in 2002 with the birth of her first grandson Jack, followed by Nohl, Addison, Eli, Kenya, Julian, Milo, and Elliott. She gladly welcomed three more bonus grandchildren - Sara, Halie, and Tyler - into the family in 2021 after the marriage of her daughter.

After a year of retirement, she accepted a position at the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University where she researched how to teach Government and taught Civics. During her time at UVU, she authored and contributed to many articles in the Deseret News and wrote a chapter for a book on learning English.

Glori was always glad to serve as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served in many different positions during her life, culminating with a mission to camp MIA Shalom with Ken this summer. 

Glori loved the outdoors and enjoyed hiking, skiing, kayaking, pickleball, and biking -recently completing a 30-mile ride shortly after a double knee replacement.

She loved being involved with Braver Angels, reading, gardening and cooking/baking. She was very proud that she passed her love of the culinary arts along to all four of her children.

Glori is preceded in death by her father Campbell, her mother Boots, her father-in-law Ken Smith Sr., mother-in-law, Ann Smith, and her brother-in-law, Earl Lamson.

She is survived by her husband Ken Smith Jr., her brother Glenn Hodge, her sisters Gail Lamson, Gay Howe (Gordy), Glenda Lopez (Steve), her four children Glori Ann Standifird (Josh), Amber Wilkerson (Leonard), Kenny (Chelsea), Katie Brown (Chad), all of her grandchildren, and her countless loving brothers- and sisters-in-law, nephews, and nieces. 

A viewing will be held Saturday, July 13th, at 2pm, followed by the funeral service at 4pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1260 West 1150 North, Provo, Utah.