SMITH, David Martin

Bunker Family Funeral & Cremation, Mesa, Arizona David Martin Smith September 11, 1943 ~ November 29, 2014 David Martin Smith, 71, passed away November 29, 2014 in Gilbert, Arizona. He was born September 11, 1943 in Safford, Arizona. A visitation will be held on Friday, December 5, 2014 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at Bunker’s University Chapel, 3529 E. University Drive, Mesa, Arizona. Funeral services are Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 10:00 AM, preceded by a visitation at 9:00 AM, at the LDS Lehi Stake Center, 1430 N. Grand, Mesa, Arizona. Interment at City of Mesa Cemetery, 1212 N. Center Street, Mesa, Arizona. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel Bunker Family Funeral & Cremation ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Vining Funeral Home, Safford, Arizona David Martin Smith September 11, 1943 - November 29, 2014 David Martin Smith, 71, of Mesa, passed away suddenly with his sweetheart by his side, Saturday November 29, 2014. David was the third child born to Eldon and Vera Smith on September 11, 1943 and spent his childhood at his farmhouse in Central. He loved growing up with all his cousins in the Gila Valley. He was student body president at Thatcher High School and graduated in 1961. David then attended Eastern Arizona College until he served a mission in Chile for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon returning he graduated with a degree in Animal Science from BYU, but more importantly, he swept the love of his life off her feet and married Carolyn Nielsen Smith on June 5, 1968. They resided in Safford and Thatcher (Daily Estates) before building their home in Pima. Together they raised a beautiful family of six. David worked at Valley National Bank and was transferred to Mesa in 1984, where later he built a lawn maintenance business where his boys were able to work with him side-by-side and many other young men earning money for missions. His love for people superseded all his loves of: horses, cattle, land, gardening, pecans, Toro football, genealogy and missionary work. He shared these loves with all his friends and family. If you met him, you were immediately his friend, and you probably also learned of how you were related to him. If you weren’t related, he searched for a connection and usually found one. His heart never left the Gila Valley. David was preceeded in death by: his father, Eldon; five brothers, Vernon, Harvey, Clay, Nephi, Eldon Lot III; and his only sister, Melanie Farr. David is survived by: his mother, Vera McLeod (Ross); two brothers, Robin (Cathy) and James; his wife, Carolyn; six children, Sherri Stradling, Lance Smith (Natalie), Cindi Turnage (Chris), Steve Smith (Jenny), Vikki Bradshaw (Owens) and Tanya Smith; seventeen grandchildren, Whitni, Hylari, Kevin, Noah, Martin, Lauren, Dannah, Sadie, Tyson, Hailee, Dawson, Peyton, Tatum, Brighton, Lowe, Isabelle, David; and three great-grand-children, Braylon, Taeya, and Kyree. Funeral services for David Smith, age 71, of Mesa, and formerly of Central, will be conducted Saturday, December 6th, at 10:00 a.m., at the Lehi L.D.S. Stake Center, 1430 North Grand in Mesa. Concluding services will follow in the Mesa City Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday evening, December 5th, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., at the Bunker’s University Chapel, 3529 East University Drive in Mesa, and Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 a.m., at the Lehi L.D.S. Stake Center Relief Society Room. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of David Martin Smith please visit our Sympathy Store.