Category Archives: Obituary

Jerusha Barden Smith Obituary

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(Kirtland, Ohio ; Far West, Mo.) (1837)
Subject: Church periodicals
Publisher: Kirtland, Ohio Far West, Mo. Thomas B. Marsh

Obituary published in the Elders Journal, October 1837 edition, Volume 1, No. 1, Kirtland Ohio, p 16.

OBITUARY
Died, in this place on the 13th Inst, after an illness of about ten days, Mrs. Jerusha T. Smith, the wife of Hyrum Smith. She has left five small children together with numerous relatives to mourn her loss, a loss which is severely felt, by all.
Our Sister was beloved and highly esteemed by every lover of truth and virtue; but she has been taken from us in an untimely, or rather an unexpected hour, as her companion was from home perhaps near one thousand miles at the time of her decease, and was deprived of the privilege of witnessing her exit from a world of sorrow and perplexity, to the paradise of God.
But, Alas! she is gone home! yes, (using her own language to one of her tender offsprings when on her dying bed,) ”Tell your father when he comes that the Lord has taken your mother home, and left you for him to take care of”
She had her senses until the last, and fell asleep, leaving this assurance behind as a reward for leaving all that was dear for the sake of a risen Savior, and enduring in faith on his name to the end, that she should have a part in the first resurrection, and come forth and inherit the mansion that is prepared for the faithful, and receive the welcome plaudit “Come ye blest of my Father inherit that kingdom prepared for you from before the foundation of the world.”

Eldred Gee Smith

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http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=eldred-smith&pid=164056519#fbLoggedOut

Eldred Gee Smith
1907-2013

Eldred Gee Smith, Patriarch Emeritus to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away peacefully in his home on Thursday, April 4 , 2013. At 106, he was the oldest man in Utah.

Alert to the end, he spent the day before his death attending the temple with other General Authorities and handling personal business.

Patriarch Smith was born January 9, 1907, in Lehi, Utah, to Hyrum Gibbs Smith and Martha Electa Gee Smith, the second of eight children. His childhood years were spent in Lehi; in Los Angeles, California, while his father attended USC dental school; and in Salt Lake City, following his father’s call as Patriarch to the Church.

After his father’s untimely death in 1932, Eldred worked at various jobs to support his mother and siblings during the Great Depression, including painting the ceiling of the Tabernacle, delivering ice on his back, and wallpapering for Bennett Paint & Glass.

Eldred married Jeanne Audrey Ness on August 17, 1932 and they had five children. She died in 1977. He married Hortense Hogan Child in May 1978.

During World War II, Eldred worked on the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. A lifelong engineer, Eldred registered several patents and enjoyed perpetual tinkering, especially on the building and rehabilitating of clocks. His culminating hands-on project was the design and building, with his wife Jeanne, of their home on St. Mary’s Drive.

Prior to his call as a General Authority, Eldred served as a branch president, bishop, and high councilor. Called as Patriarch to the Church in 1947 by President George Albert Smith, he served with nine prophets. He received emeritus status in 1979, but continued to give patriarchal blessings in his office in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building until recently. He gave over 18,000 patriarchal blessings throughout the world during his service as Patriarch.

Patriarch Smith was the oldest living descendant of Joseph Smith, Sr., and of Hyrum Smith, brother to the Prophet Joseph. As the oldest son in a line of oldest sons from Hyrum, he inherited Smith family artifacts dating back to the beginning of LDS Church history. For almost fifty years, he gave fireside talks, many with his second wife, Hortense, using these artifacts to tell stories of the Smith family and the LDS Church beginnings. It is estimated that over 500,000 people heard his presentations over the years.

Eldred has donated many family papers and relics to the LDS Church and BYU library.

Eldred was preceded in death by almost everybody. He stopped reading obituaries ten years ago, as contemporaries’ names were not showing up any more. Among those welcoming him home were his parents; his sisters, Cleone, Helen, Miriam, Verona, and Donna; his brothers, Hyrum and Barden; his first wife, Jeanne; his second wife, Hortense; his daughter Audrey Gay Vance; and two grandsons. Eldred is survived by his daughter Miriam (Ted) Skeen, sons Eldred Gary (Elizabeth) and Gordon Raynor, daughter Sylvia Dawn (Craig) Isom, 22 grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren, and 22 great-great grandchildren. Eldred was also a beloved step-father and grandfather to Hortense’s two children, Carol Jane Burdette and T.R. Child, and her eleven grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 10, at 11:00 am at the Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 S. Wasatch Drive. Friends and family may call Tuesday evening, 6-8 pm, at the Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 E. 1300 S., and at the stake center Wednesday, 9:30-10:40 am. Interment at Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Published in Deseret News from April 6 to April 8, 2013

Mary Fielding Smith Obituary

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In this city, the 21st of Sept. last, MARY, relief of the martyred Patriarch, HYRUM SMITH, aged 51 years and 2 months.

The deceased was truly a “mother in Israel” and her name, and deeds, will be held in everlasting remembrance, associated as they are, with the persecutions of the saints and those tragic scenes that can never be forgotten. Possessed to a superlative degree, of those peculiar qualifications, that support and invigorate the mind in adversity, she endured afflictions, and overcame difficulties with a degree of patience and perseverance worthy of imitation.

By the massacre at Carthage, June 27th, 1844, she was left the sole guardian of a large family of children and dependents, for whom, by her indefatigable exertions, she provided the means of support, and removal from Nauvoo to this peaceful valley of the mountains. And after providing for their future ????? here, she has been called to leave ??? ??? a numerous circle of kindred and friends, to enjoy the society of her martyred husband, and of the prophets and saints that have gone before, in another state of existence.

Her last illness, of about two months co??lm???ce, she bore with her usual fortitude and patience; and only wished to live to do good to her family, and those around her. She has entered into ?????y the example she set during her sojourn on earth not be forgotten by those she left behind, to follow after.