Ernie Smith Obituary (1947 - 2017)

Hyrum Ernest Smith III, beloved brother, husband, father and grandfather, died peacefully on June 11, 2017 with his family by his side following a year-long battle with brain cancer. Born on August 17, 1947, in Redlands, California, Ernie was the third of five children of Hyrum Ernest Smith, Jr. (1912-1995) and Gladys Pearce Hudson Smith (1919-2007). He enjoyed a happy childhood, attending Granada Hills High School, where he played on the varsity basketball and tennis teams and was voted "Most Athletic" by his peers. Ernie lived a life of service to his family, friends, church, and many charitable organizations. In 1970, he married Sylvia Sharp, of Portland, Oregon, in the Salt Lake City Latter-day Saint Temple. Together for 47 years, they raised five beloved children, nurtured many others in need of a loving home, made a multitude of friends, and served together and supported each other in many church and other service responsibilities. For the past year, Sylvia has tenderly taken care of Ernie's every need. Ernie answered with enthusiasm a lifetime of callings from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These opportunities included missionary service as a young man in Australia and later, service with Sylvia as President of the Tennessee, Knoxville Mission from 1999-2002. Ernie also served in the Stake Presidency of the Murray Utah South Stake, as Bishop of the Murray South Young Single Adult Ward, as a member of several Bishoprics and High Councils, and as a Scoutmaster, among many other callings. While serving with the American Cancer Society (ACS), Ernie survived a successful fight against late-stage skin cancer in 1985. He held various leadership and fundraising positions in the ACS, including Chairman of their National Golf Tournament for many years. He also served in long-time leadership capacities with the Cougar Club, Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, and Make-a-Wish Foundation, among other charities. Ernie graduated with a B.S. in Economics from Brigham Young University in 1971 and a J.D. from the University of Utah in 1974. While at BYU, he played on the varsity tennis team. After completing law school, Ernie decided to pursue a career in real estate rather than practice law. He had a long and successful career as an entrepreneur in residential and commercial real estate development. Throughout these years of service and career, Ernie always made time to enjoy life with his family and foster many friendships. He enjoyed Sunday after-dinner board and card games, making homemade ice cream for his family, winning impossible-to-beat carnival games to get prizes for his grandchildren, and having family and friends join him in his favorite pastimes and hobbies such as tennis, his love of BYU sports, golf, and traveling the globe. Ernie is survived by his wife, Sylvia; their five children, Eric (Michele) Smith, Murray, Utah; Elliott (Julie) Smith, Murray, Utah; Evan (Cheryl) Smith, Halifax, Massachusetts; Sarah (Jared) Quincy, Bluffdale, Utah; and Jason (Misty) Smith, Draper, Utah; 19 grandchildren; brother Grant Smith; and sisters, Shirley (Norm) Calder Stauffer, Laraine Flood, and Karen (Daniel) Garrett. A funeral service will be held at the Latter-day Saints Church located at 5735 S. Fashion Blvd., Murray, Utah on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. Friends and family may call on Friday evening at the church from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. and on Saturday at the church from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. prior to the service. A private family interment will occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Latter-day Saints Church Missionary Fund or to the American Cancer Society. Mortuary services are being handled by Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home of Murray, Utah. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins.soffe.com. Funeral Home: Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary-Murray 4760 South State Street Murray, UT 84107