Ed Smith

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LOA/HELPER-Michael Edward Smith, age 69, passed away peacefully on Jan. 4, 2010 at his home in Helper, Utah. He was born Aug. 3, 1940 in Provo, Utah to Merin and Cora Oyler Smith. Married Madelyn Peterson, Aug. 29, 1959 in Las Vegas, Nev. and they shared 32 years of marriage before their divorce.
Ed was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a graduate of Wayne County High School in 1959 where he excelled in basketball. Ed was proud of his heritage and at a very young age he learned the value of hard work which he instilled in his children.
He was raised in Fruita, Utah (Capital Reef National Park) where he worked in both the family fruit orchards and uranium mine. In his youth he enjoyed herding cattle on the Boulder and Henry mountains.
After leaving the area, Ed owned and operated Fairlane 66 Service Station in Granger, Utah, Ed’s Texaco in Helper and the Amoco Station in Price. Ed was always looking for new opportunities and in 1978 he began transporting coal miners to the Valley Camp Mine in Scofield. This was the beginning of a business venture which has become known as Smith Transit Inc. As Smith Transit company grew, Ed’s life was enriched by many wonderful friends and patrons. His greatest satisfaction was being able to work alongside his son Corey and watch the business flourish. He loved riding 4-wheelers, boating, camping, and snowmobiling with family and friends. Ed shared a great passion for collecting and restoring classic cars, and most of all building and racing race cars with his son Corey. He had a great sense of humor and he loved sharing stories and making Corinna laugh. Ed will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He is survived by two sons and two daughters, Corey (Genefer) Smith, Helper, Corinna (Elvin) Anderson, Moab, Mike Smith, LaVerkin, Sue (Scott) Heino, Price; his sisters, Evelyn and Lavon; 11 grandchildren, Niqui, Savana, Sydney, Kyle, Kody, Josh, Jessica, Ashley, Brandon, Evan and Garrett; and his good friend, Dawn Rivet of Price. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral service was Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, 12 noon, Loa LDS Stake Center, 20 South 100 West. Family was at the Helper LDS Stake Center, 150 Ridgeway Thursday evening from 5-7 p.m. and at the church in Loa Friday from 10:45-11:45 a.m. Interment, Loa Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price.