Mark Morse Smith
Mark Morse Smith, beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, cousin, uncle and friend to many, passed away from melanoma cancer on February 19, 2022, in American Fork, Utah. He was 85 years old. He was born on April 30, 1936, in the Cottonwood Maternity Hospital in Murray, Utah to Ida Elizabeth Morse Smith and Daniel Cutler Smith. Growing up, he lived in Salt Lake (East Mill Creek area for a time), Lehi and Orem. As a child he enjoyed playing the clarinet, starting in the 4th grade. His clarinet talent eventually led to him being in the marching band at Lincoln High School in Orem, Utah. During his Junior and Senior high school years he was the drum major of the band with the special talent of baton twirling. He enjoyed entertaining and he and a friend, Dave Chittock (later the best man at his wedding) were a comedy duo in school doing skits at school assemblies and as a side business. He also ran track in Junior and Senior High School specializing in the 440 yard run and mile relay. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1954 and was active in later years organizing class reunions.
Following high school, he served in the US Army going to South Korea from January 1955 to October 1956. He also was a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin and served for a time at the mission office in Chicago. He attended BYU and during one Thanksgiving break dance at the Smith Field house, he met Linda Lucille Harley. Immediately after his and Linda’s graduation from BYU on Friday May 25, 1962, he married his sweetheart in the Salt Lake City temple on Monday, May 28, 1962. After graduating from BYU, he worked at Morton Thiokol in Logan, Utah. Later he earned an MBA from the University of Utah, after returning from a short time living in Bloomington, Indiana and then Provo, Utah.
In 1965, Mark and Linda chose to raise their family in Burbank, California. Three out of their four children were born in Burbank. He worked many years for the Southern California Gas Company in Los Angeles as an industrial engineer and as a Risk Manager. Later, he worked in the Burbank Adult School teaching basic computer skills. He loved his teaching job and interacting with the students. The family had many good times in Southern California visiting often Linda’s parents Arthur and Kay Harley and other relatives in the area. The family visited Utah at least once a year to keep in touch with his parents, Dan and Ida Smith, and other Utah relatives. They made fond memories of trips in his parents’ camper and fishing on their pontoon boat at Strawberry reservoir.
Mark was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served his various congregations in many capacities over the years such as councilor in the bishopric, stake high councilor, Los Angeles temple worker and Boy Scout leader.
In 2007, Mark and Linda started their retirement years in American Fork, Utah where they had many family members nearby. Mark’s family has deep roots in American Fork, going back over 150 years.
Mark was a very warm, fun and loving person and delighted in making people of all ages smile and laugh. During his missionary service, he learned how to make a “squeaking” noise through his lips. He would pretend a child’s ear or nose had made the noise when he would softly touch their earlobe or nose. He would “squeak” it. Mark would then fain surprise at the squeaking noise as the child would try and figure out from where the sound had originated. After a few squeaks, many young children would finally figure out the real source of the sound, pointing to Mark’s lips. Some people, now in their 60’s, still remember Mark’s squeaking act on them.
Mark is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Linda Smith; four children Glenn (Dianne); Doug (Christi); Craig (Carolyn) and Allison (Mike). He is survived by 12 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was grateful to have lived to see and hold his last grandchild, Caleb Dobson, born January 4, 2022 and participated in his baby blessing. He was preceded in death by his parents, his parents-in-law and his sister Fae Cobbley and brother-in-law Glade Cobbley. He loved and took a deep interest in his immediate and extended family and friends, at times going to great lengths to keep in touch.
A viewing will be held on Saturday morning, February 26, 2022, from 9:30 to 10:30am with funeral services to follow at 11:00 am at church building located at 3785 West Boxelder Drive (4000 North) Pleasant Grove, Utah. He will be interred in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery.