John Dawain Smith1927 ~ 2013John Dawain Smith peacefully bade farewell to his precious family September 15, 2013.He was born April 11, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah to John Casper Smith and Sarah Hatch Smith. His early years were spent in Woods Cross, Utah surrounded by his family, his beloved grandfather Stearns Hatch and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins. When he was 10, his family moved to La Verne, California. He lived through the Great Depression and World War II. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was training to be a radio operator and tail gunner when the War ended. In 1946-1949, John was called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in what was then known as the North Central States Mission. He was asked to extend his mission for an additional six months, which made it possible for him to meet his darling Marian in Glasgow, Montana. John and Marian Beales were married in the Salt Lake Temple on the 31st of August 1950 by Spencer W. Kimball, then of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. They lived in Provo, Utah while he attended Brigham Young University. Later, they moved to California and in 1961 returned to Salt Lake City, Utah.With each church calling extended to him, he served diligently and faithfully. He was a gifted speaker, and loved to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was an avid reader, historian, genealogist, writer, musician and gospel scholar. John loved to garden and taught his children to appreciate the beauties of the earth as he did. He was a perfect gentleman; generous and kind to everyone he met.Marian passed away in 1998 just three days shy of their 48th wedding anniversary. He has missed her greatly and we find comfort in knowing that they are now reunited once again. He lived independently until the 15th of May when he fell on his driveway and was found by three young boys who called the ambulance. We express our deep gratitude to them for their kindness to our father.Our exemplary father is adored by his three daughters, Deborah (Dennis) Iverson; Victoria (Joseph) Huish; Alicia (Jim) Clayton; 13 grandchildren; and 25 great grandchildren. He is survived by his sister Zona Gayle (Lee) Farnsworth. John was preceded in death by his daughter Kathleen; his son John Landon; his wife Marian; his sister Luana Patterson; and his parents, John and Sarah Smith.To honor his wife Marian, who had been the secretary to Dr. Cedric Davern, during his tenure as Dean of the University of Utah Medical School, our father chose to donate his body to the College of Medicine.
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