"The pains are gone! Unfortunately, so are the good times and great experiences of living...Donald Allen Smith, 66, died June 5, 1998 in Salt Lake City, Utah after a lengthy struggle with cancer."
There was national rejoicing November 26, 1931 when Don was born to Wyman Leslie and Evelyn Jessie Bolender Smith in Blue Springs, Nebraska. It was, in fact, Thanksgiving Day!Don was always an outdoors person, spending every waking moment in "woods or dale"; literally, from the time he could walk. In later years, he enjoyed fishing, duck hunting, elk hunting and skiing with his sons and grandsons, as well as horseback riding/packing, and gardening. After retirement from public service, he started a small landscape/yard care business, which he operated until ill health took over.
Don married Joyce Reeder, April 15, 1955, two sons were born to this union, Scott Wayne and Michael Dean Smith, he was later divorced; married Ayna Rolene Allen, July 3, 1980, later divorced; married Barbara Wiggins Ferrin, October 12, 1992.
Don grew up and attended public schools in Blue Springs, Nebraska and Wichita, Kansas. He earned a Pre-Forestry degree from Fairbury J.C., Fairbury, Nebraska, and B.S. and M.S. degrees in Wildlife Management from Utah State Agricultural College (University), Logan, Utah.
He began his professional career as a Conservation Officer with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. He returned to Utah after about a year in Idaho and spent the next 33 years with the Utah Fish and Game Department (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, UDWR). Positions with UDWR included Waterfowl Management Area Superintendent, Supervisor of Waterfowl Management, Chief of Planning and Programming, Assistant Director, Director, and Regional Supervisor. He retired in 1987 as Regional Supervisor in Vernal, Utah.
Don's principle accomplishments through his professional career included oversight of acquisition, development and improved management of several thousands of acres of UDWR-owned waterfowl marshes; co-authoring the state's first Outdoor Recreation Plan that earned eligibility for state and local governmental agencies to receive federal Land and Water Conservation Funds for outdoor recreation projects; and development and institution of effective organizational changes in the UDWR. He strived for professionalism in his own activities and urged such an approach in all around him.
He was an officer or member of many professional societies, committees, and associations, some of national and international membership. He was also active in several civic organizations and private conservation groups and maintains memberships in Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, National Rifle Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and KUED public television.
Don is survived by his wife, Barbra; sons, Scott Wayne Smith (Cindy), Magna, Utah; Michael Dean Smith (Julie), North Salt Lake, Utah; three grandchildren; stepchildren, Laura Ruth Sabey, American Fork, Utah; Jordan Steward Wiggins, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Richard E. Sabey, Lehi, Utah; three stepgrandchildren; mother; and sister, Patricia Ann Lewis (Richard), Lincoln, Nebraska; and three nieces and two nephews. Preceded in death by his dad.
Funeral service will be held at 12 noon, Tuesday, June 9, 1998 in the Bennion Heights 4th Ward Chapel, 3045 West Bernina Drive, where friends may call on Tuesday from 10-11:45 a.m. prior to service, with Bishop Bryan Wright conducting. Funeral directors Allen-Hall Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers Don requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association or American Scleroderma Foundation.
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