Scott Parker Smith

On February 20, 2023, Scott Parker Smith returned peacefully to the loving arms of his Heavenly Father.  There to meet him was his son, Jake, who preceded him in death in 2019, and also his father, Stephen, who went before in 2012.  Scott was born in Ogden, Utah, to Stephen Argyle Smith and Maurine Howarth Parker.  He was the oldest of seven children, father of three, and grandfather of eight.

In August 2021, Scott was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.  Most patients with this type of cancer quickly lose the same quality of life they had prior to the diagnosis.  That was not the case with Scott.  He miraculously enjoyed having his full physical and mental capacity up until his last few months.  He continued to work, travel, enjoy the outdoors, and tease grandkids.

Scott was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He served a full-time mission for the Church in Chicago, Illinois and in São Paulo, Brazil, where he became fluent in the Portuguese language.  Scott returned home after his two-year mission, but his heart never left Brazil.  He continued to study and speak the language throughout his life, always keeping watch for an opportunity to converse with anyone who happened to share the language.  It was not uncommon on family vacations, or in any other public place, to look around for Scott only to realize he found some Brazilians in the crowd that he could talk to.  Scott met many Brazilians on his mission that became life-long friends.  During the past four years of his life, Scott again served as a missionary for the BYU Pathways program, where he facilitated and led groups of Brazilian students learning English via Zoom.  Every Thursday around 5:00 in the morning, Scott got up and spent an hour or more coaching them, leading them, and loving them.  As always, Scott developed a great relationship with them and helped them with whatever they needed to succeed.

Following his young missionary service, Scott attended Brigham Young University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management.  Scott has been a builder at heart from the time he was young.  In the first grade, he would hide in the ditch at recess until the other students returned to the classroom so he could sneak around the corner and watch construction workers build houses.  Starting as a young man installing fence posts on his grandfather’s cattle ranch, Scott would go on to work in a variety of roles in the construction industry, eventually starting two successful construction companies as a General Contractor:  Integrated Construction Services, and later Smith Construction Services.  

He was truly a master of his craft.  His work spanned everything from luxury, high-end homes to medical and dental practices to his own garage.  Scott was highly regarded by both his clients and his subcontractors.  Scott loved everything about his work, but it was the people that mattered most to him.  He developed many strong relationships with clients, subcontractors, and work associates that would last through the years.  The hallmark of Scott’s work was treating people with respect and being completely honest in all of his dealings. 

Along with Scott’s construction expertise, he was a man who could fix about anything that needed to be fixed.  Usually without any special training or instruction.  He seemed to have the knack for knowing how things worked.  On one occasion, a neighbor gifted Cindi and Scott an old washer that didn’t run.  Others had already tried to fix it with no success, and they brought it over with all the parts and pieces in a box.  After a short time, Scott had a working washer with everything put back together.  Since it was now working, the neighbor decided it must be worth something and wanted $25 for it, which Scott provided.

While attending college, Scott met Cindi Jane Robinson.  Cindi grew up in Ohio, the Buckeye State, and Scott in Utah.  Scott’s roommates fondly referred to them as “Squat and Buckeye.”  They fell in love and were married for time and all eternity in the Manti, Utah Temple in 1980.  That would be the beginning of the next 43 years of marriage.  Shortly before Scott graduated from BYU in 1982, their first son, Aaron, was born.  Over the next five and a half years, Scott and Cindi would be blessed with two more boys, Jacob and Benjamin.  Scott’s construction work would soon take them to Canton, Connecticut for six years before returning to Utah to raise their family.

As much as Scott loved construction, his family was his true passion and his greatest joy.  Throughout the years raising his three boys, he became involved with whatever their interests were.  He was there for every extracurricular, every game, every performance, every camp out, and everything in between.  Scott himself was a hobbyist, and he enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, backpacking, shooting, water and snow skiing, and snowmobiling.  Anything outdoors was especially appealing to Scott, and he spent his younger years traversing the backcountry of Logan Canyon on horseback and on foot.  He instilled the same love and appreciation for the outdoors in his boys through yearly family vacations to various National Parks and through backpacking trips and hikes to many of the highest mountain peaks across Utah. 

From the time the boys were young and into their adult years, Scott’s hobbies became his avenue to teach and spend time with them.  But Scott loved a good challenge and was never afraid to try something new.  In his younger years, he tried his hand at hang gliding and bull riding.  When Ben was a teen, Scott signed them up for Capoeira classes (a Brazilian martial art), which they enjoyed together for over a year.  In his older years, he even tried a little surfing with Aaron—Scott didn’t struggle with the surfing as much as he did getting out of the wet suit.  In his words, it felt more like “skinning a whale.”  Just this past fall, after two brain surgeries, Scott convinced Cindi to take a hip-hop class with him, which culminated in Scott on stage in a Santa Claus suit for the final performance.

Scott loved being both a father and grandfather.  He loved every moment with grandkids and became affectionately known as “Silly Grandpa.”  He would quickly have them laughing, and won their hearts with his jokes and teases.  Whether it was wrestling with them on the living room floor or snuggling up for a movie, he helped them know they were loved and valued.

Scott’s influence with youth extended far beyond his own kids and grandkids.  He served as a scout leader for most of the time that his boys were of age.  After each earned their Eagle Scout and moved on from scouting, Scott continued to work with other boys in the scouting program for many years, teaching them how to hike, backpack, and camp.  He was an excellent leader to them and they grew to love and respect Scott.  He knew how to have fun and was quick to joke around and get a smile, but his primary focus was always to instill good values and teach them to choose the right.  He was always looked up to and seen as a positive role model by the boys he worked with.  

After Scott’s diagnosis and throughout the time that he battled brain cancer, he always took things in stride.  Throughout the surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, and even when treatment options were exhausted and his health started to significantly decline, Scott never complained.  Not once.  Long before his cancer diagnosis, he was someone who faced the trials and challenges of life head on, choosing to trust in the Lord to help him through.    

Throughout his 67 years of life, Scott fought the good fight and won.  As one dear friend put it, he has now “graduated” from this life.  We rejoice to know he’s free from the troubles and cares of this world and is reunited with his son, Jacob, and with many loved ones who have been anxiously awaiting his arrival.

Scott left behind a legacy of faith, love, kindness, and true friendship to all who knew him.  His life was dedicated to lifting others and leaving them happier.  He was genuine in every way. 

Scott, we love you.  We can’t wait to see you again.  

Scott is survived by his wife, Cindi, his two sons, Aaron (Kjersta), and Benjamin, and his eight grandchildren, Lily, Ruby, Grey, Jair, Taft, Zoe, Eden, and Finn.  He is also survived by his mother, Maurine, and his six younger siblings, Kent (Diane), Donnette (Doug), Greg (Andrea), Brian, Noelle, and Amber (Jim).  He is preceded in death by his father, Stephen, and his son, Jacob.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at the Country Park Stake Center, 2447 West 11400 South, South Jordan, Utah where a viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m and Saturday morning from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment- Larkin Sunset Gardens.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory 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.