Jesse Wayne Smith

Jesse Wayne Smith, 63, of Santaquin, Utah, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, after his daily 5-mile walk at the cemetery.

Jesse was born in Globe, Arizona, on August 16, 1960, to Wayne Eugene and Nan Lorraine Burnett Smith. He was the fourth child of five and a cherished member of a close-knit family. He grew up in Santaquin, Utah, where he attended grade school and later graduated from Payson High School, class of ’78.

His love for sports, especially baseball, was a defining part of his life. In his younger years, he was a great pitcher and shortstop, creating memories that would last a lifetime. As he got older and had his own children, he found joy in coaching them. In his recent years as “Papa,” he was his grandchildren's biggest fan, never missing a game or recital.

Jesse always prioritized everyone else’s needs. When his father died, he put his plans of attending welding school on hold to stay home and help his mother. They later started the Family Tree in Santaquin, Utah, where Jesse found his love for cooking, canning, perfecting his mom’s famous pie crust, and developing his skills as a grill master.

Jesse married the love of his life, Cori Ann Craghead, on June 20, 1986, and they had four amazing children together.

He dedicated thirty years of his life to his hometown fire department, retiring as Santaquin City’s assistant fire chief. His service was a testament to his commitment to his community. In recent years, he worked for Payson City as the Storm Water Inspector, where he made lasting friendships. Jesse made friends wherever he went and never met a stranger, leaving a lasting impact on those he encountered.

Jesse loved his family immensely and enjoyed spending time with them whenever possible. Whether it was time spent hunting, fishing, or camping, he always had a life lesson to teach or a story to share around the campfire. He was always there with an open ear and loving arms to listen and give advice to anyone who needed it. He was passionate about hunting dogs and loved attending dog trials with his kids and many friends. His love for hunting ran deep, and he even enjoyed hunting for the perfect Christmas tree with his kids and grandkids, even though they made him crazy “hun-dad.” These things kept the family traditions alive. If he wasn’t spending time outdoors, you could find him watching the Yankees play, The Andy Griffith Show, M*A*S*H, or an old Western, unless it was around Christmas time, then you can bet it would be It’s a Wonderful Life.

He is survived by his wife, Cori; sons Jake (Brittney) Smith of Santaquin; Nickolas (Shiann) Smith of Santaquin; daughters, Jordan (Kenny) Ellsworth of Mona; and Jessa (Sara) Smith of Santaquin. His team of 11 grandchildren. His siblings are Leslie (Val) Broadhead, Kim (Keith) Broadhead, and Danny (Susan) Smith. His uncles Bill (Rada) Burnett, and Cleil (Mary) Smith, and aunt Barbra Bean. Brothers-in-law Gary (Sheila) Craghead, Bob (Martha) Craghead, Jim (Dale) Craghead, his sister-in-law Jackie (Jim) McKinney and his half brother Terry Smith.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Nan Smith; sister, Cindy Smith; father- in-law, Jack Craghead; mother-in-law, Helen Craghead; mother-in-law, Sally Atwood Craghead; sister-in-law, Sandra McMeekin; and Brother-in-law, Richard Craghead.

A viewing will be held at Brown Family Mortuary, 66 S. 300 E. Santaquin, Utah, on Tuesday evening, June 4, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. The funeral services will be held on June 5, 2024, at the Santaquin North Stake Center, 545 N. 200 E. Santaquin, Utah, at 11:00 a.m., with a viewing from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral services. Interment will be held at Santaquin City Cemetery.

Link to the live broadcast of the service: www.youtube.com/@sunsone2956