Grant Winters Smart

Grant Winters Smart passed peacefully through the veil to join his sweetheart on April 14, 2025. Grant was born November 6, 1929, at his home in Logan Canyon, Cache Valley, Utah, to Lyman and Juanita Winters Smart. He was welcomed by three older brothers, Lyman, Ross, and Bruce, who loved him. Two years later, their baby sister Ruth Anne joined and completed the family. Their father was employed as a hydroelectric operator for the Logan City Power Company. When Grant was 2 ½ years old, his father was killed in an industrial accident. This was devastating for Juanita and her five young children. They moved to Montpelier, Idaho, to be near Juanita’s father.

It was in Montpelier that Grant spent his youth and received his early education. Grant excelled in athletics at Montpelier High School where he was the football quarterback all four years and team captain his senior year. He ran track and won all but three races in his entire running career. He represented Montpelier High at Boys’ State. He was beloved by his peers, and his senior year he was elected Student Body President by an overwhelming majority.

In 1949 he entered the U.S. Navy for a period of four years, stationed at San Diego, California, 11th Naval District Headquarters. He served his last year on the USS Logan 196, an attack transport. The ship traveled through Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, China. Grant was well-loved and well-respected by his fellow naval comrades. He took great pride in how he looked, acted, and performed his naval duties. Upon discharge, Grant accepted a call and served a mission to the Western States Mission, where he served in Grand Junction, Fruita, and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

June 8, 1956, Grant married his Beauty, Lucille Hulme, in the Salt Lake Temple. Grant had dreamed about and prepared for his future wife and family while serving in the Navy. In Asia, he purchased a set of china dishes, pearls for a necklace, a wedding ring, and enough silk material for a wedding dress for his future bride. Lucille often smiled and said that her husband was always there to “Grant” her wishes.

Family meant everything to Grant and Lucille. Together they were blessed with seven children. Their family loved to be together, whether it was for family dinners, singing around the piano, weeding in the garden, reading scriptures, serving neighbors, gathering for family home evening and family prayers, talking about ancestors, or watching Grant win Trivial Pursuit games. Grant loved his children and liked to show them off to relatives and friends.

When Grant wanted his children to come home after playing with their neighborhood friends, he would simply walk outside and whistle. That whistle was loud enough to reach the entire neighborhood. Everyone knew it was time for the Smart children to go home right away. Some parents would often ask Grant to whistle so their kids would return home, too.

Grant loved to learn and never passed up an opportunity for education. He attended the University of Utah where he graduated with a Political Science Degree. He did post-graduate work at Claremont College and Stanford University. He was first employed as a teacher and administrator at East High School in the Salt Lake City District. Later he became the Director of Veterans Affairs at Utah Technical College, now known as Salt Lake Community College. He was also the Director of Personnel and an Administrative Assistant to the President at Salt Lake Community College. He concluded his employment as a professor of social sciences, his favorite role.

He made history come alive in his classroom. Aptly named for a teacher, Mr. Smart began each class with the greeting, “Good morning, Scholars.” He had a deep appreciation for history, political science, and parliamentary procedure. Many of his students wondered if he was a democrat or republican. He wanted his students to decide for themselves, he never let them know his personal political views.

A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Grant served in the Bountiful Utah Stake as a teacher, a bishop’s counselor, a bishop, and a high counselor. He has also served as an ordinance worker in the Bountiful Utah Temple and the Nauvoo Temple. Grant and Lucille served from April 2002 to November 2002 in the Nauvoo Temple Mission. Their service included the Open House and Dedication of the Nauvoo Temple as well as being trainers of the Nauvoo Temple area leadership.

Grant was a beloved bishop. Calling each member of his congregation on their birthday endeared him to them. He had a silly side, too. At ward parties, he might surprise everyone by coming dressed up as Tiny Tim or one of the Beatles with a mop on his head. Grant was a great orator and shared a powerful testimony over the pulpit. He was often called upon to speak at funerals and church events.

He was full of stories of his experiences and people that he knew, and he loved a listening ear. In his later years, if he was questioned about any of the details he recalled, he would reply, “You can always improve a story in the telling.” He loved to elicit laughs from his audience.

Grant may have appeared stern, but he loved everyone who crossed his path. He did not judge and was especially caring to the innocent and downtrodden. Each person who crossed his path was treated in a Christlike way.

In his later years, he loved to paint and share his crafts along with his personal life experiences regarding history. He enjoyed visiting with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Grant loved and honored God. His actions were a personification of his beliefs and gospel testimony. His prayers and life reflected his great respect for and personal relationship with his Heavenly Father. Whenever he prayed, Grant invited God into the room and God came. Each prayer was unique and individualized. He was a true disciple and witness of Jesus Christ.

Grant felt that it was important for his children to know about current events in the community and the world. He wanted them to know and live the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wanted them to be good citizens and good members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most importantly, he wanted his children to know that they were wanted and loved, even before they were born. He would often ask his children, “What do you know for sure?” All of his family knew the answer: “My daddy loves me!”

Grant is survived by his seven children, Richard (Mary Lue) Smart; Nita (Burnett) Facer; Paul (Karen) Smart; Nancy (Kevin) Duncan; Lisa (Grant) Roberts; Nathan (Alison) Smart; Mary (Brian) Holdstock; 29 grandchildren, and 43 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille, his parents, siblings, his grandson Spencer Smart, and great-granddaughter, Angel Ruby.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bountiful 9th Ward Building, 585 E. Center Street, Bountiful, Utah. Viewings will be held on Friday, April 18, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main Street, Bountiful, Utah, and Saturday, April 19, 2025, from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the Bountiful 9th Ward Building.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.

Grant will be greatly missed by the family who knew for sure he loved them. In a future day, his family will await his whistle calling them back to their Heavenly Home.