John Sivell Smith

John Sivell Smith, 85, peacefully returned to the loving arms of his Father in Heaven on Friday, December 12, 2003 at his home surrounded by the family he loved so much.
He began his life on July 4, 1918 in Thatcher, Idaho, a son of George Sivell and Ethel Laurelda Egbert Smith. He was taught early in his childhood the value and importance of prayer and this virtue stayed with him throughout his life. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in a chorister class and met Josephine MaRea Johnson and it was love at first sight. After a two year courtship, he left a ring on her finger when he accepted a mission call for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to the Southern States Mission from 1940-1942, where he served in Mississippi and parts of South Carolina.
Despite getting a ?Dear John? letter nearly every week for almost two years, John and Jo MaRea were married two weeks after his return on October 12, 1942 in the Logan Temple. Their relationship ever after was one of commitment, devotion, hard work, laughter, and love. They started their life together in Thatcher, Idaho and eventually living in Auburn, Wy., Trenton, Ut., and finally in Smithfield. As a dairy farmer life was hard work, but he and Jo MaRea took it head on, and he always had his sense of humor. He could build and fix almost anything and many things around the farm had his trademark workmanship on it.
He loved music and gardening. One of his favorite pastimes was hunting- especially deer and elk, but nothing came close to the entertainment of sports. After playing basketball in high school, he became a lifelong fan. There was hardly a Jazz or BYU football game played that he didn?t watch.
His membership in the LDS church and his testimony was very important to him. He was continually reading and studying to gain greater knowledge which he was always willing to share. As a result, he held and faithfully served in many callings in his life including Gospel Doctrine teacher.
He loved his family very much and his influence will be felt in a marvelous way through his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and through many generations of time.
He is survived by his wife, Jo MaRea; his children: Janice Ken Garner, Bountiful, Ut.; JoMarie Steven Poppleton, Chubbuck, Id.; Beth Doyle Serr, Chubbuck, Id.; Clair John Ann Smith, Smithfield, Ut; Marilyn Thomson, Smithfield, Ut.; Melody Dean Pendleton, Mapleton, Ut., 20 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two children and daughter-in-law, Ann Christensen Smith.
Friends and family will be able to pay their respects Friday, December 19 from 6-8 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home, 85 South Main, Smithfield. Funeral services will be Saturday, December 20 at 1:00 p.m following a viewing from 11:30 to 12:30 at the Smithfield 1st Ward Chapel located at 175 South100 West. Interment will be in the Thatcher Cemetery, Thatcher, Idaho. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com .