Gary Leon Smith, 86, of San Tan Valley, AZ, passed away on November 30,2020. He was born May 11, 1934 in Roseville, IL, to Blake and Dorothy Smith. Gary grew up in Bentley, IL, and Roseville, IL, where he went to Roseville High school. He joined the Air Force in 1952. Gary married the love of his life, Alice Viola Waring, on November 28,1954. They lived in Columbus, OH, and Little Rock, AR, until he was discharged from the Air Force in 1956, at which time they settled in Kirkwood, IL. Gary worked as a welder in Burlington, IL at Modern Welding until the family moved to Mesa, AZ in 1963. Gary earned an associate degree at Mesa Community College, Mesa, AZ. He worked for a short time at Dave’s Trailer Works in Mesa, AZ, as a welder before going to work at Motorola where he retired at age 62. He then was able to enjoy his true passion, plants, by working at Tip Top Nursery, which eventually became Summerwinds Nursery in Chandler, AZ. Gary enjoyed tinkering with pretty much anything mechanical, he was an avid handyman, and he loved working in his gardens and flowerbeds.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie Blake Smith and Dorothy Hortence Gilbert Smith; his wife of 62 years, Alice Viola Waring Smith; and two nephews, Jeffrey Hayes and David Hayes.
Gary will be missed by his sister, Donna Kay Hayes; three children, Teresa Kay Ravia, Carol Diane Thompson and Steven Leon Smith; 6 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; 7 nieces and 1 nephew.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring of 2021 at Love of Christ Lutheran Church, Mesa, Arizona. Please make a donation in Gary’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
Neal and I loved talking to Gary about plants. God broke the mold after he made Gary. He was such a good, caring man and he’ll greatly be missed.
Neal and I loved talking to Gary about plants. God broke the mold after he made Gary. He was such a good, caring man and he’ll greatly be missed.