Avis Palmer Smith
1930 ~ 2008
A warm candle glow of light and love flickered from our lives as Avis Palmer Smith passed gently into the next world during her sleep on May 8, 2008 at age 77. We who were loved by her keenly feel the loss of her constant and careful attention.Avis was born on June 23, 1930 in Cedar City, Utah, the daughter of Edward Leo and Irene Chamberlain Palmer. She was the third of seven children. She was born into a family noted for scholastic achievement and did her part to maintain the reputation. She was selected as valedictorian when graduating from the Branch Agricultural College, later to become Southern Utah University. She also had leading roles in plays produced by the college, played French horn in the orchestra, and was honored in talent contests and admired for her beauty and charm at dances.
She was married to Stanley Udell Smith in the Saint George Temple on April 18, 1951, and spent the next fifty-seven years in service to her family and loved ones, always placing their interests and needs above her own. She actively served in her church, including a calling as Primary president. She also supported her husband as he accepted chapel building assignments for the church in Scotland and England and also in Samoa and Tonga. While in England, she served for a time as Relief Society president, and in Samoa she was enlisted to help as an English teacher in the church schools. She also performed secretarial duties and was friend and neighbor to all she met.
Avis is survived by her husband and four children, Cynthia Wright (Logan), Brent Udell (Yoriko), Holly Irene Leonard (Tim), and Jared Khay (Rebecca) who have added a posterity of 14 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by four siblings, Paul (June), Roland (ReNee), Zoe Leone Petty (Clayton) and Claudia Yardley (James), but was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings, Joanna Brown (Rodney) and Brent (Lorraine).
There will be a viewing at the Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 N. Main, Bountiful on Wednesday May 14, 2008 from 6 to 8 p.m. and from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday May 15, at the Bountiful 23rd Ward Chapel, 2150 S. 650 E. Services will be held there starting at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in the Bountiful City Cemetery, 2224 S. 200 W.