DeShawn H Smith
DeShawn H Smith
1969 – 2023
DeShawn H Smith was born in Billings, Montana on August 30, 1969 to Scott Thurman and LaDawn Smith. DeShawn passed away peacefully on the morning of May 8, 2023.
DeShawn graduated from Billings Senior High School and went to Ricks College for a year before serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Netherlands, Amsterdam mission where he learned to speak Dutch.
Upon completing his mission, he returned to Ricks College where he met his eternal companion, Susan Roth. They were married on June 7, 1991 in the Logan Temple. He and Susan have two sons, James and Jordan, and two grandsons Armin and Lincoln.
DeShawn made a career as a Software Engineer, before moving to managing others. He worked at many different companies, including Symantec, Altiris, Ancestry, and most recently Adobe.
He had a love of teaching, and became a successful and well-liked adjunct professor at Utah Valley University, where he taught Computer Science and Math courses.
DeShawn had many different interests. He loved to cook Dutch Oven food, which he enjoyed sharing with others. He loved the Boy Scouts of America, completing the Woodbadge course and helping many boys with their advancements. He loved music, playing the clarinet all the way through college, and singing Barbershop music afterwards. He was an avid biker, 3D printing enthusiast, Lego builder, and actor in community productions at the Pleasant Grove Players and the Hale Centre Theatre. He loved Disney and enjoyed traveling to the Disney Parks frequently. He loved to travel with his family, and especially taking trips with Susan.
He was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved being an ordinance worker at the Mount Timpanogos Temple with Susan. He had an unwavering testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and was an example of Christlike love to everyone who knew him.
The most important thing to DeShawn was his family. He will be missed by his family and friends, including his wife Susan, his sons James and Jordan, their wives Christine and Brylee-Ann, and his two grandsons Armin and Lincoln.
DeShawn’s funeral will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 11:00 am in the Mount Mahogany 8th Ward Chapel, located at 1541 North 1300 West, Pleasant Grove, Utah. Family and friends are invited to attend a viewing from 9:30-10:30 am prior to services at the church. Interment will follow the funeral at the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery at 500 North 100 West Pleasant Grove, Utah.
Donations accepted through Venmo @Susan-Smith-1911