Ronald James Smith

Ronald James Smith passed away peacefully while talking to friends on December 23, 2025. He was born August 16, 1945, in Murray, Utah to Clinton Pearson Smith and Rhea Reeder Smith in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ron served a mission in Ireland for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and grew to love all things Irish, especially the people and traditions. He later served in the Army Reserves. One of his earlier life-defining moments was surviving spinal meningitis while in the military. He miraculously lived through this life-threatening illness, and he viewed life with gratitude and grit for the rest of his days.

Ron married his sweetheart, Julie Kay Engar in the Salt Lake Temple on November 22, 1967, and together they had five children. His family brought so much joy, and he looked forward to any time he could spend with them. Even while his memory dimmed, he still felt happy when he looked at their pictures or saw them.

Ron loved simple, hands-on activities. Gardening was one of his favorite ways to spend time, and he took great pride in growing tomatoes, squash, and many other vegetables.

Ron was creative from the start. He drew cartoons as a child, always noticing details and finding humor in everyday life. Ron was silly and playful until his last days.

After trying archery, Ron turned to photography, which became his main passion. His favorite subjects were wildlife, flowers, and nature. He enjoyed learning the technical aspects of photography and worked hard to improve his skills. Ron won awards and cash prizes and showed his photography at the Salt Lake Airport.

Ron’s other great passion was Dutch oven cooking, and if you were lucky, you got to try his famous Dutch oven chicken recipe he loved to call “Ron’s Gorgeous Legs.”

Ron is survived by his wife, daughters Hillary (Jarrett) and Melissa, sons Travis (Cheryl) and Brodie, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his beloved son, Burke Anthony Smith, his parents, sister Julia Rossiter, and brother, David Smith.

The family would like to thank the wonderful caretakers at Escalante at Coventry and Canyon Hospice who were so kind to him.

Funeral services will be held on December 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS chapel at 9119 S 1300 East, Sandy, UT 84094, with a viewing an hour before. There will also be a viewing the night before, December 29, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Memorial Mountain View Mortuary at 3115 E 7800 South in Cottonwood Heights. Interment will be at Memorial Mountain View Mortuary and Cemetery following the services on December 30, 2025.