Zona Alice Buford Smith Obituary (1945 - 2019)

Zona Alice Smith, age 73, returned to her heavenly home on July 15, 2019, after a long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer. The earth has seldom seen such a cheerful warrior. Zona was born in South Gate, Los Angeles County, California on December 5, 1945 to parents Thomas Luddwell Buford and Alice Agusta Eiting. She grew up in Paramount, California. Zona graduated from Paramount High School and attended Compton Jr. College, both in Southern California. She excelled in Art, Speech, and Drama. As a young woman she was elected as Honored Queen of Job’s Daughters (a very high honor among the young ladies in her bethel). Her father, Tom and her brother, Ken were 32nd Degree Masons. All her family felt honored by her service as Honored Queen. She was introduced to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 1965 by some friends. She was baptized in February, 1965. She married her eternal sweetheart, Keith Stohl Smith, in the Los Angeles Temple on February 25, 1966. Her service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints included service as President of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary in various locations throughout the United States. She was also a beloved teacher in Primary and Sunday School, and served in several positions in Cub Scouting. She served as PTA president for Twin Peaks Elementary School and Bonneville Jr. High, and on the PTA Utah State Board. Zona excelled in painting, sewing, and creating unique greeting cards which she made for her children, grandchildren and special friends. Most of all, she loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed road trips with her husband and close friends. Zona is survived, and will be greatly missed, by her husband, Keith, her children Charlene (and Von) White, Jason (and Andrea) Smith, Lynette (and Bill) Dent, Wyatt (and Janet) Smith, and Mark Smith along with her 25 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. She will also be greatly missed by her many, many friends and relatives. She will be welcomed in her heavenly home by, among many others, her beloved parents Tom Buford and Alice Eiting. The family gives special thanks to those at Elevation Hospice who served Zona during her last month, especially Dr. Steven Heath (the Hospice Medical Director and Zona’s Primary Care Doctor for the last 30 years, his nurse, Pat (a special friend to Zona and Keith over the years), also the Registered Nurse, Kristi and the CNA, Tayler who gave Zona such loving and caring service! A viewing will be Monday, July 22, 2019, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home, 4760 S. State Street. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at the Chevy Chase LDS Ward located at 5235 South Wesley Road, Murray, Utah, with a viewing from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment: Elysian Burial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made for cancer research.