Obituary: Anthon Leon Smith

Anthon Leon Smith 38 and Holding Beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Anthon Leon Smith, passed away January 24, 2006 from a massive heart attack. Leon was born June 27 in Idaho Falls, Idaho to Clyde Anthon and Virginia Peterson Smith. He grew up on the dry farms of Ammon Idaho where he learned to love the earth and all creatures great and small. He was the oldest son and worked hard to help his parents support their farm. Leon served a mission for the LDS Church in Australia and developed a great love for the country and its people. While on his mission, his first companion's niece wanted to write to a missionary and Leon was so shy that his companion actually wrote the first letter for him. Leon and Rosalie Johnson then began a two year correspondence which culminated in a lifelong love affair. After returning from his mission, they were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on June 22. They have lived in Orem-Provo, Woodland Hills, Rexburg, and the Pleasant Grove area and currently reside in Lindon. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS degree in Industrial Engineering while working full-time at Hercules. Upon graduation, he was employed at US Steel in Orem as a management trainee where he also completed a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Utah. He was then employed by EG&G Florida, where he worked to dispose of nerve gas canisters. Leon later returned to work for US Steel before starting his own company, SynTec Energy, in which he developed and patented a proprietary process for obtaining crude oil from oil shale, a testament to his analytic aptitude. Leon was currently working to commercialize this process and was known as one of the foremost authorities on oil shale in the world. He had a great love for the Gospel and recently completed reading the Book of Mormon again, serving faithfully in all of his callings. Leon served as Elder's Quorum President, in a Bishopric, and as Sunday School President. He especially valued the Scouting program and assisted many boys in earning their Eagle Scout award. Coupled with his love for the gospel was his passion for missionary work. Nine of his children served faithful missions and Leon looked forward to the opportunity to serve again with his wife, Rosalie. Leon also loved working with youth and spent countless hours coaching soccer, baseball, football, and basketball teams wherever he resided. Leon adored his family and had great pride in their accomplishments. Leon and Rosalie are the parents of 11 children and 27 grandchildren. He is survived by his beloved wife Rosalie Joyce Johnson and children including Dardree Joyce (Scott McClellan, Provo), Daryn Anthon (Lori Lance, Cedar Hills), Rosanne Juliet (Cody Ekker, Lehi), Dr. Devyn McKinley (Shelli Edgar, Boston, MA), Jeremy Johnson (Pamela May, Rockland, ID), Dr. Christopher Leon (Teena Smith, York, PA), Dr. Ashley Clarence (Becky Pelton, Philadelphia, PA), Dr. Daymon Michael (Amber Creery, Provo), Dr. Danielle Elise (Salt Lake City), Skyler Stanford (Deceased), and Gavyn Christian (Montevideo, Uruguay West Mission). Grandchildren include Joseph, Jacob, Joshua, Jessica, Jason, Justin, Jared, and Joanna McClellan; Easton, MacCoy, and Abigail Smith; Mykel and Austyn Ekker; Cassin Edgar-Smith, Guersy Lindor and Nella Lindor; Skyler, Zakery, Mayson, and Kamber Smith; Autumn, Elianna, Haley, and Aleesia Smith; Xander Smith; Piercen and Coliopi Smith. His surviving siblings include: Carolyn Grover (California), Betty Davenport (Rexburg, ID), Dennis Smith (Clinton, UT), Alan Smith (West Jordan, UT), Sandra Messick (Wyoming), Pauline Byron (Idaho Falls, ID), Sterling Smith (Kuna, ID), and Julie Blackburn (Salt Lake City, UT). He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother-in-law (Cornell Grover), and a son (Skyler). Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 28, 2006 at 11am in the Lindon Ninth Ward Chapel, 1050 East 100 North, Lindon. Friends may call Friday evening from 6-8 pm at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary (495 South State, Orem) and Saturday morning 9:30-10:30 am at the church. Interment, Pleasant Grove City Cemetery.