1929
Bethel
2016
Bethel "Smitty" Eirgil Smith
July 12, 1929 — January 1, 2016
Gilbert
Former Walla Walla resident Bethel
Eirgil Smith “Smitty,” 86, passed away
in Gilbert, Ariz., with his wife, Sharron,
by his side on Jan. 1, 2016.
Born of goodly parents to Guy Edward Smith and Edna Jane Burgoon on July 12, 1929, in Toppenish, Wash., Eirgil attended local schools in Walla Walla.
Eirgil married Myrtle Mable Clayton in 1951. The marriage ended in divorce in 1979. He married Barbara Winters that same year in which he later divorced.
Eirgil then married Sharron Lynn (Murray) Woods in September of 1986.
Eirgil was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a lot of fun, spending time with the youth boating/skiing, playing basketball and
teaching ballroom dancing. Many youths enjoyed the all-church dance festivals in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then spent time with family traveling and camping
through Yellowstone and spectacular parks in Utah.
Eirgil also played on the local church basketball team and had many stories to tell of his experiences. After taking vocal lessons early in his life, Eirgil became a
sought-after soloist for many funerals and weddings.
Eirgil retired after 25 years with the Walla Walla Fire Department and then went to work for the city’s police department, ultimately retiring as its code enforcement
officer. Eirgil also had his own business as an electrician — Smitty’s Electric. He has wired many a home in Walla Walla. His hobbies included restoring old cars and at one time he owned a fully
restored 1929 Plymouth. He was also very talented with wood and spent many of his last years working on beautiful wood pictures with his wife, Sharron.
Eirgil is preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Ansel (Jack) Arnold Smith; and a grandson, Christopher Douglas Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Sharron at home; brothers, Duane Smith (Joan) of Grangeville, Idaho, Jim Smith (Margie) of Walla Walla and Wilbur Smith (Sharon) of Kirkland, Wash.; sons,
Gary Lee Smith (Sandra Rae Goade), Marvin Dee Smith (Josephine Frank) of Guam; a daughter, Teresa Vee Dutcher (Michael Kenney Dutcher); grandchildren, Sabrina Lyn Zapata (Juan Manuel Zapata Jr), Julianne Lizbeth Dutcher, Aaron Jacob Dutcher (Elise Kathryn Jablonski), Michael Kenny Dutcher (Christina Kay Harper), Nicole Rae Verkist (Daniel Christopher Verkist), Corrie Lee Hawkins (Darren Andrew Hawkins); great-grandchildren, Terrika Lyn Zapata, Juan Manuel Zapata III, Chandler Scott Dutcher, Ryan James Dutcher, Tyler Jeffry Dutcher, Justin Joseph Dutcher, Tyler Daniel Verkist, Amanda Rae Verkist, Benjamin Lloyd Groom, Whitley Anne Groom, David Andrew Hawkins; and many nieces and nephews. Eirgil is also survived by his step-children with Sharron, Gary Woods (Patty) of Gilbert, Ariz., Michael Woods (Christine) of Austin, Texas, David Woods (Allison) of Chico, Calif., Roger Woods (Angie) of Provo, Utah, Susan Call (Gary) of Huntington
Beach, Calif., Julie Stock (Blake) of Pasco, Carol Ivey (Edwin) of Houston, Texas; and 29 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, at 11 a.m. in Walla Walla, 1821 S. 2nd Ave. Interment will follow at the Blue Mountain Cemetery.
Born of goodly parents to Guy Edward Smith and Edna Jane Burgoon on July 12, 1929, in Toppenish, Wash., Eirgil attended local schools in Walla Walla.
Eirgil married Myrtle Mable Clayton in 1951. The marriage ended in divorce in 1979. He married Barbara Winters that same year in which he later divorced.
Eirgil then married Sharron Lynn (Murray) Woods in September of 1986.
Eirgil was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a lot of fun, spending time with the youth boating/skiing, playing basketball and
teaching ballroom dancing. Many youths enjoyed the all-church dance festivals in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then spent time with family traveling and camping
through Yellowstone and spectacular parks in Utah.
Eirgil also played on the local church basketball team and had many stories to tell of his experiences. After taking vocal lessons early in his life, Eirgil became a
sought-after soloist for many funerals and weddings.
Eirgil retired after 25 years with the Walla Walla Fire Department and then went to work for the city’s police department, ultimately retiring as its code enforcement
officer. Eirgil also had his own business as an electrician — Smitty’s Electric. He has wired many a home in Walla Walla. His hobbies included restoring old cars and at one time he owned a fully
restored 1929 Plymouth. He was also very talented with wood and spent many of his last years working on beautiful wood pictures with his wife, Sharron.
Eirgil is preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Ansel (Jack) Arnold Smith; and a grandson, Christopher Douglas Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Sharron at home; brothers, Duane Smith (Joan) of Grangeville, Idaho, Jim Smith (Margie) of Walla Walla and Wilbur Smith (Sharon) of Kirkland, Wash.; sons,
Gary Lee Smith (Sandra Rae Goade), Marvin Dee Smith (Josephine Frank) of Guam; a daughter, Teresa Vee Dutcher (Michael Kenney Dutcher); grandchildren, Sabrina Lyn Zapata (Juan Manuel Zapata Jr), Julianne Lizbeth Dutcher, Aaron Jacob Dutcher (Elise Kathryn Jablonski), Michael Kenny Dutcher (Christina Kay Harper), Nicole Rae Verkist (Daniel Christopher Verkist), Corrie Lee Hawkins (Darren Andrew Hawkins); great-grandchildren, Terrika Lyn Zapata, Juan Manuel Zapata III, Chandler Scott Dutcher, Ryan James Dutcher, Tyler Jeffry Dutcher, Justin Joseph Dutcher, Tyler Daniel Verkist, Amanda Rae Verkist, Benjamin Lloyd Groom, Whitley Anne Groom, David Andrew Hawkins; and many nieces and nephews. Eirgil is also survived by his step-children with Sharron, Gary Woods (Patty) of Gilbert, Ariz., Michael Woods (Christine) of Austin, Texas, David Woods (Allison) of Chico, Calif., Roger Woods (Angie) of Provo, Utah, Susan Call (Gary) of Huntington
Beach, Calif., Julie Stock (Blake) of Pasco, Carol Ivey (Edwin) of Houston, Texas; and 29 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, at 11 a.m. in Walla Walla, 1821 S. 2nd Ave. Interment will follow at the Blue Mountain Cemetery.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bethel "Smitty" Eirgil Smith, please visit our flower store.
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