Leslie Smith

Leslie Powell Smith passed away in the early morning hours of Thursday February 19, 2015 in Gilbert, Arizona.

Leslie was born in Vallejo, California, on April 6, 1947, where she lived until she was 11 years old. Her family then moved to Southern California in 1958, and soon, thereafter, to Los Alamitos. She lived there until she graduated from Western High School in 1965. After graduation, she attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where she met and married William David Smith in 1969, and earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1970. Soon after graduation, they moved to the South, and had six beautiful children. Living in Albany, Georgia; Lexington, Kentucky; Atlanta, Georgia; and Birmingham, Alabama, they were always within driving distance of Bill’s parents and brothers in Knoxville, Tennessee, whom they frequently visited. Always a California girl at heart, Leslie moved to Roseville, California, in 1994, with her three youngest children to be closer to her family. She has resided there for the last 20 years.

Leslie was an amazing mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Beautiful on the inside and out, she had a way of making everyone feel special and important. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she was a woman of great faith; who never gave up. She taught her children to always have faith in the Lord’s plan, even during the hardest of times. She willingly served in her various church callings and assignments, and gave all she had. For the last 15 years she worked as a favorite substitute teacher in her local school district, and also was an expert home organizer. She adored the children she worked with and they loved her back. She will be remembered for her infectious smile that could brighten the darkest room, her selfless character, as well as her unconditional love for all that she knew, or came in contact with. Her children and her grandchildren were her pride and joy. Her face would light up whenever she spoke of them, and they loved her dearly. She will be greatly missed by the countless people she influenced.

Leslie leaves behind her loving children Jennifer (Finn) Jensen, Adrienne (Erick) Safsten, Gregory (Stacy) Smith, David (Emily) Smith, Whitney (Steve) Trythall, Clark (Taryn) Smith, and her 17 grandchildren she dearly loved. She is also survived by her brother Brian (Kay) Powell and sisters Jane (Robert Fiorentino) Powell, and Elizabeth (Duane) Kerr; her uncle Keith (Lois) Clark Anderson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents, Evan “Dee” and LaRue Anderson Powell.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 12 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 1941 N. Main Street in Farmington, Utah. Friends may visit family before the service from 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Interment will be at the Farmington City Cemetery.