Colleen Sperry Smith

Colleen Sperry Smith was born on October 18, 1934 to Frank Lamont and Iola Croff Sperry. She grew up on various farms around Salem, Utah, and eventually settled at West Mountain in Payson. After graduating from Payson High School in 1952, she enrolled as a first-generation student at Utah State University in Logan. While attending the university, she met Kent Farrell Smith, the love of her life, in the LDS Institute Choir. Kent and Colleen were married August 22, 1956 in the Salt Lake Temple. They raised five children together while living across various locations and, in 1967, settling in Holladay, Utah.
Colleen later returned to school as a mother at the University of Utah, completing her degree in Family and Consumer Studies with an emphasis in nutrition. Her curiosity and educational tenacity were an inspiration to so many and especially all of her children. She later taught nutrition courses at SLCC, and her knowledge strengthened a 45-year battle with diabetes that ultimately improved and extended her life. That being said, her degree was most useful at home. Serving her family was the most important thing in the world, and Colleen’s children with their families are what created the fabric of her life. Countless hours were spent supporting and cheering each and every one of them forward. Her wit, wisdom, and hopeful perspective brought light to the lives of so many.
Colleen was known to everyone as a most kind and compassionate person. She loved her family, neighbors, and anyone else she met. She saw good in every person and loved them for it. Her home was always welcoming and often filled with students, colleagues, and friends from all over the world. Kent and Colleen’s basement apartment and upstairs bedroom always hosted many children, grandchildren, and others needing a place to live. Grandma Smith kept all of her family close through holiday traditions, birthday celebrations, dates, visits and cards.
Colleen exemplified charity in all that she did. Significant time was spent aiding the community in various PTAs, book clubs, 4-H, and Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She and Kent served together as mission presidents in Jacksonville, Florida from 2001 to 2004 for more than 450 beloved missionaries. She remained in contact with most of them and continually followed their lives. Colleen always loved ministering to those in need, and she served in many church callings but especially loved leading the 11-year-old neighborhood scouts.
Colleen was passionately devoted to Ute football and Jazz basketball. She loved attending music concerts and theater productions, especially when she knew the performers. She was an effective gardener with aloe vera, vegetables, and flowers adorning her home. She traveled all over the world, but she especially loved their family cabin in Bear Lake, vacation home in St. George, and campers, houseboats, and motorcycles across Southern Utah. She always took care to plan and pack for trips with a trusty bag of books and a cooler full of food. Colleen worked tirelessly to make life easier for everyone around her. Her family actively wishes to emulate her accepting, loving, witty, consistent, wise, and patient way of caring and supporting anyone she met.
Colleen passed away peacefully on May 5, 2023, in their Holladay home. She was lovingly surrounded by her husband, brother, children, and many grandchildren. We love our mom and grandmother.
Colleen is survived by her husband Kent F. Smith, her brother Mont (Terrill) Sperry, sister-in-law Jaci Smith, her children Kathy (Tony) Tidwell, Cristie (John) Mabey, Jeff (Jannae) Smith, Cyndi (Steve) Hampton, and Becky (Doug) Farley; grandchildren Cammie Tidwell Morales, Amy Tidwell Orme, Sharon Tidwell Coombs, Connie Tidwell Jones, Marianne Mabey Finlinson, Ben Mabey, Candace Mabey Little, Thomas Mabey, Kenton Smith, Eliza Smith Gee, Conrad Smith, Angela Smith, Weslie Smith, Sarah Hampton Brown, Rebekah Hampton Hopper, Elizabeth Hampton Richey, Hannah Hampton Hyer, Joseph Hampton, Mary Hampton, Caleb Farley, Mary Farley Roney, and Rose Farley Hunter; and 35 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Donna, brother-in-law Orlynn Sheen, and nephew J Lynn Sheen; from Kent’s family, June (Smith) and AJ Powell, John Hoge, O’Dell and Helen Smith, Dean and Dolores Smith, Kay D Smith (Kent’s twin brother), nephew Randy Hoge, and niece Gwendolyn Smith Walter; and beloved grandson, David Hampton.
Colleen’s family especially wants to express a most heartfelt thanks to Dr. Timothy Farrell: You are the best doctor in the entire world. And, enough cannot be said to Patti Sansom, who was Colleen’s significant caregiver for the last three years. We literally couldn’t have done it without you, Patti. You are the 5th daughter! Finally, we are so grateful for the best neighbors and the Valley View 9th Ward and everything they’ve done (and continue to do) for Kent and Colleen. There are so many of you that give so much.
The viewings and funeral service are being held at the Valley View 9th Ward building: 1925 E Gunderson Lane, Holladay, Utah 84124. The first viewing is Friday evening, May 12th, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. On Saturday, May 13th, there is a brief viewing from 10:00 to 10:30 am before a formal funeral service at 11:00 am. The interment will be held after the service at the Memorial Holladay Cemetery: 4900 South Memory Lane, Holladay, Utah 84117. Colleen would love for you to consider donating to the general mission fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in lieu of flowers.
To view the services remotely, please click https://zoom.us/j/94706742904#success
Service Information
Viewing May 12, 2023 at 6:30-8:00 PM
1925 East Gunderson Lane, Holladay, Utah





Viewing May 13, 2023 at 10:00-10:30 AM
1925 East Gunderson Lane, Holladay, Utah





Funeral Service
May 13, 2023 at 11:00 AM
1925 East Gunderson Lane, Holladay, Utah