Stanley Russell Smith

Obituary

Stanley Russell Smith

July 29, 1944 – April 8, 2025

Stanley Russell Smith, 80, was called home to his Lord and Savior on April 8, 2025. He made his final walk with his wife of nearly 60 years at his side at Cody Regional Health, Long Term Care Center.

Stan was born on July 29, 1944, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the second of three children born to Carroll Lyman and Ethel Lois (Mace) Smith. He spent his childhood on a farm in Haverhill. After graduating from Marshalltown High School in 1962, he proudly served his country in the United States Navy aboard the USS Dewey as a radarman until 1965. Upon his discharge from the Navy, Stan began working at Fisher Controls International in Marshalltown and asked his sweetheart, Barbara Ann Dudley, to marry him. They tied the knot in November of 1965 and had four children: Jennifer, Shannon, Mark and Julie.

Stan's love for travel was ingrained in him at an early age when his parents took him and his siblings on adventures around the country. That spark and a love for the mountains, hunting and the outdoors ignited a desire to move his family out west to Casper, Wyoming in 1970 to work for Mountain Bell Telephone Company as a lineman and cable splicer. From there he brought his family to Worland in 1978, continuing the same career path with US West Communications as a manager until his retirement in 1993. Stan was never one to sit idle for long, so he took the reins and began working as an outside contract engineer for Tri County Telecommunications (TCT) in Basin, Wyoming, laying the groundwork to begin providing fiber optic cable services to the valley until his retirement (for real) in 2004.

Family always came first for Stan. His wife, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren knew they were loved. Smith family time was about Iowa road trips, weekend camping, fishing at Paint Rock Creek, hunting and exploring the beautiful Wyoming mountains and open spaces, black labradors, riding horses, church activities and potlucks, and family gatherings around the holidays enjoying great food, ruthless family ping pong tournaments, and hearty laughs. Those blessed to join the family were quickly embraced with a sense of belonging that only love can give. He gave each of his kids the attention they needed most as individuals, empowering them with confidence and courage to pursue their dreams and build families of their own.

Retirement was a joy for Stan and Barb. They traveled across the country visiting their friends and family and ventured abroad to Ecuador several times to see Julie and her family. Trips to Morocco (twice), Slovakia, Egypt, and Africa helped to quench their thirst for adventure!

Stan was always willing to help as was exemplified in his many years of volunteering with the Washakie County Ambulance. He was a quiet warrior who often stood in the background but was right where he needed to be to offer assistance. His smile was infectious and there just might be a little practical joke about to be played when you saw that grin.

Stan was a man of few words, which made the words he expressed seem even more precious. In the hardest of times, when the family lost Mark, he led the family to say "I love you" often. His love for family and living each day to the fullest is a gift that lives on with all of us. He will be missed dearly by all who know him.

Stan was preceded in death by his parents, son, Mark and brother, Lynn. Survivors include his loving wife, Barb, son, Shannon (Laurie) Smith of Boise, Idaho; daughters, Jen Smith of Stevenson, Washington, Julie (Luke) Martin of Ecuador; nine grandchildren; Lindsay (Emily) Saunders of Dummerston, Vermont, Jack (Amy) Saunders of Belgrade, Montana, Jordan (Aubrie) Smith of Billings, Montana, Tanner Smith of Boise, Idaho, and Ivan, Sebastian, Gwen, Emmett and Thomas Martin of Ecuador; four great-grandchildren: Sawyer, Kohen, Oliver and Henry and sister, Marjorie (Robert) Grimes of Marshalltown, Iowa.

Memorial service will be held 11:00 AM, Monday, April 14, 2025 at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Worland with Reverend Jared Korb officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Memorial Gardens Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the US Navy, American Legion Post #44, the Patriot Guard Riders and his son, Brigadier General Shannon Smith. A light lunch will follow at St. Luke's. Memorial donations may be made to help St. Luke's Lutheran Church in creating new stained-glass windows. Checks may be sent to PO Box 524, Worland, WY 82401. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.