Roy Lee Smith

Roy Lee Smith of Spanish Fork UT passed away peacefully on June 26, 2025. He was 99 years old. He was born on August 30, 1925 in Heber UT, the youngest of five children born to Samuel Lee Smith and Rachel Ann Jones. He married Joan Nielsen on June 13,1951 in the Salt Lake City Temple. He was a devoted husband to Joan and a loving father to his seven children: Marlene (Dave) Hippen of Olympia, WA; Ann (Terry) Roper of Lakewood CO; Ellen (Larry) VanDyke of Red Bluff CA; Arlen, (Sue) Smith of Citrus Heights, CA; Rita (Bret) MacCabe of Salem, UT; RaNae Smith; and Lara Obert of Provo, UT.

He graduated from Wasatch High School in Heber and earned a BSA in Animal Science from BYU Provo. He did post graduate work at Washington State University and Utah State University. He was a hard-working and dedicated high school teacher in Vernal UT, Grass Valley CA, and Red Bluff CA. He is well remembered as an FFA Advisor, working with students in and out of the classroom for most of his teaching career.

Roy served in the U. S. Army Air Corps from 1945-1946 and was stationed in Japan during WWII. He served a three year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Southwest States Mission, Spanish Speaking. He also completed missions with his wife, Joan, after he retired from teaching. They served in the Tonga, Vava’u Mission; Deseret Farms Mission in Chico CA; BYU Cattle Ranch in Declo ID; and the Bishop’s Storehouse Cannery in Lindon UT.

Roy was a man of great faith and served in many callings in the church, including bishop, high councilman, early morning seminary teacher, gospel doctrine teacher, and family history specialist. He also served as an ordinance worker in the Manti and Payson Temples.

He is survived by six of his children, 37 grandchildren, 78 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren and many extended family members who will miss him. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, wife Joan, daughter RaNae, and granddaughter Heather VanDyke. We find comfort in knowing that his legacy lives on through the lessons he taught us, the love he shared, and the memories we will cherish forever.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 8th at 11:00 am at the Salem 2nd Ward building, 60 South Main Street, Salem UT, with the viewing from 10-10:45 am. Burial will be at the Heber City Cemetery, 680 N 550 E at 2:30 pm.