Obituary: SMOOT, STEPHEN

Stephen Parkinson SmootCivil Rights ChampionStephen Parkinson Smoot, died May 16th, 2012, after enduring 22 years of cancer.Born June 13, l928 in Salt Lake City, to Isaac Albert and Nettie Smart Parkinson Smoot.Attended Salt Lake public schools, graduated 1945 - East High School, 1952 - University of Utah (Political Science), graduate studies at U of U in 1960's. Fraternities: Sigma Nu & Delta Phi; mining prospector, broker in oil and gas leases, securities and real estate; Scout and Landman with Gulf Oil Corp; Democratic party positions, including Salt Lake County and Utah State Democratic Party Chairman and as a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles; appointed during the Kennedy administration as the Director of the Salt Lake District Office, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce; established an export-import business working in India, the far east and the former Soviet Union; US Court appointed trustee, appraiser and real estate broker; co-founder and president of the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and 2011 recipient of its Torch of Freedom, Lifetime Achievement Award; board member of numerous civic committees and councils. Director/Executive Secretary of the Salt Lake Committee on Foreign Relations (1963 to1996);His service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints includes missions to Hawaii and Eastern Canada, high council, gospel doctrine teacher, bishop of the University 4th Ward, Salt Lake Inner-city missionary for 11 years, co-director of the Storehouse of Specialists; athlete in football, basketball, skiing, scuba-diving, running and rock climbing; Eagle Scout; enjoyed good jazz, classical music and the NBA Jazz; loved vacationing at his Costa Rica home and cabin in his beloved Pine Valley, Woodland.He married Marilyn Stewart Hewlett August 21, 1950 in the Salt Lake Temple; married 47 years until her death in 1996; married Paula Margetts Swaner and was amicably divorced; survived by his present wife, Mary Lou Jenkins Thurston; children: Shauna S. Bradley (James), Stephen Hewlett Smoot (Jill), Sherman Isaac Smoot (Nan Waller, Sherri Oyler) and Allison S. Kilbourn (John); 18 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Mary Lou added her 3 married children, 15 grandchildren, and 23 great-grand children to the marriage. Preceding him in death were his parents and all his siblings- Ruth, Park and Richard and their spouses.Services will be Thursday, May 24th at 12 Noon at the Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 So. Wasatch Drive. Friends may gather Wednesday evening from 6 - 8 pm at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 E. 1300 So. and at the church Thursday morning from 11:00 - 11:45 am prior to services. Interment, Woodland, Utah Cemetery. Share online condolences at www.larkincares.com.In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Perpetual Education Fund via the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.