C. G. "Smitty" Smith

C. G. "Smitty" Smith, 82, of Idaho Falls, passed away peacefully Monday, January 23, 2017, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Carroll Gray Smith was born April 26, 1934, in Menan, Idaho, to Elmer Bradley Smith and Lillian (Gray) Smith. Smitty spent his childhood in Menan, attending school and helping his father on their farm. His mother was a grade school teacher who taught him and helped provide resources and guidance throughout his school years and into college. At the age of 12, Smitty's parents moved the family to Carey, Idaho, where they purchased a 160-acre farm on Silver Creek. In high school, he participated in sports and especially excelled in the area of music. Playing the trumpet as a member of the high school band, he qualified for the Idaho All-State High School Band and competed in an annual music festival in Boise, Idaho. From this, he received a music scholarship to Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. With a major in music, he was able to play most any instrument or music by ear; but was most accomplished on the piano, which he played almost daily for the rest of his life – recently writing, playing and recording his own arrangements. Smitty met and married Donna Disbennett October 25, 1953, in Carey, Idaho. To this union were born four children: Victoria Marie, Linda Ann, Douglas Lee and Steven Craig. Smitty and Donna were divorced in 2012, after which he retired and took residence in Idaho Falls with companion and caregiver, Maxine Rosenkrance and her granddaughter, Chelsie Bare. Smitty began his working career living in Arco, Idaho, working as a Laborer at the AEC Site on the Arco Desert. Because of fluctuating workforce and layoffs, he moved his family to Donna's hometown of Bellevue, Idaho, where he took a job working for Orval Cameron. There he learned to weld and developed an interest in auto body repair. In 1956, he moved his family back to Arco, taking a job working for Keith Browning at Browning Chevrolet. He worked as a welder, mechanic and auto body repairman. He then bought the adjacent Chevron Service Station business from Keith Browning, and operated it for several years until he completed the building of Smitty's Body Shop, beginning his own successful auto body business. Later, it was expanded to include Smitty's Auto Body Sales and a Polaris Dealership, where he sold snow machines and riding apparel. Being a gifted mechanical mind, he invented and received a patent for a dip stick wiper which he manufactured from machinery he designed and built himself. In 2002, he went to work for Arlo Lott Trucking, based in Jerome, Idaho, where he drove truck for several years before buying his own semi and operating his own trucking business; finally retiring after meeting his "million mile" goal. Smitty was very civic-minded, was actively involved in many organizations, and held many positions. A list of the various organizations he was involved in includes being a member of the Butte County Chamber of Commerce, member and president of the Arco Rotary Club, member of the Arco Masonic Lodge and the El Koran Shrine Club, a two-term Arco City Councilman, Advisory Board Member to Idaho State University VoTech School in the field of Mechanics and Auto Body Repair, and Arco-Butte County Airport Commissioner. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was a licensed pilot and owned his beloved 1951 Navion airplane, which he used on many occasions to assist in various search and rescue operations in Butte County; and to transport critical patients to hospitals in Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Boise (before Life Flight came to this area). Smitty is survived by his children: Vicki (Dan) Mooney, Linda (Jim) Scouten, Doug Smith and Steve Smith; 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and two older brothers, Lavar and Leland. A Graveside Service will be conducted in late spring, at which time the date and location will be announced.

Graveside Services will be held in late spring. He passed away