Jimmy Leon Smith

Jimmy Leon Smith, 67, died April 16, 2011 in the Idaho Falls Hospital. He was born Jan. 6, 1944 in Shelley to Marion Dorious Smith and Ruby Mae Jameson Smith.

He spent his boyhood days in Shelley and where he received his education.

He joined the Marines in 1961 during his senior year of high school. After basic training he drove home to Shelley to visit his family and on the way back was in a car accident. His right leg was severed just below the knee. He spent many months in the Salt Lake City Veterans Hospital recovering and learning to use his new leg. This was the end of his like as a Marine.

He married Patricia Frahm in the Oakland, Calif., LDS Temple. They were later divorced. He worked making prosthesis in Fremont, Calif., until about 2000 when he decided to move back to Shelley.

While living in Shelley he worked for the Shelley Parks and Recreation Department, helping make Shelley more beautiful. About this time he had an aneurism, but later recovered.

When Jimmy learned that his nephew, Michael Rands was alone and ill and needed a place to live, he traveled to Reno and brought him to live with him. They have lived in a little country home on West River Road between Shelley and Firth.

Jim worked for the city of Basalt as the city engineer. He was a handyman, able to do many things.

Jim suffered some recent heart attacks, the final one in the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. The family is appreciative of the great care he received there.

Jimmy is survived by a daughter, Patrina (Chris) Larsen of St. George, Utah; sisters Sharlene (Joe) Eaton of Shelley and LaVerne Brower of Bremerton, Wash.; brother Marvin (Carol) Smith of Rupert; and many friends in the area.

Graveside services will be held 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery with military rites by the David B. Bleak Post 93 and the Idaho Honor Guard.  Arrangements are under the direction of Nalder Funeral Home.