Fleda Smith

Fleda Ruth Smith, our wonderful mother, passed away May 24, 2018. Fleda was born Dec. 16, 1928 in Abbeville, SC to Samuel David Smith and Roberta Edith Steele Smith, the fifth of nine children. She was blessed with loving parents and a happy home life. Their material circumstances were not abundant but their faith and love were.



In 1941, when Fleda was 12 years old, her family met two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and joined the church. She had an abiding faith and remained active in the church, serving in various callings throughout her life.



After Fleda graduated from Abbeville High School, she attended one year at Weber State Academy (University) in Ogden, Utah. She then returned to Abbeville and took a job in a textile mill where she met her first husband, John Ellis Terry. They were married Dec. 17, 1947. They lived in South Carolina, eventually settling on a large farm in Cokesbury. Fleda worked hard to make it a beautiful place.



Fleda and John had 4 children. The first daughter, Vivian Ester, was stillborn. Their other 3 children are John Ellis Terry Jr. (wife Katy) of Layton, UT, Suzan Arlene Terry Will (husband Michael) of Charlotte, NC, and Cynthia Lynn Terry Hailes (husband Charles) of Petersboro, UT. They also have numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.



In 1973 Fleda and John divorced and Fleda moved to Logan, UT where her mother and several of her siblings had previously moved. There she met Frank Purser Smith whom she married in the Logan LDS Temple on Nov. 22, 1974. From Frank she inherited 5 step-children (Kris, Kenny, Jenny, Matt, and Cameron) and numerous grandchildren whom she loved as her own. Frank preceded her in death on Oct. 19, 2007.



Fleda was always cheerful, friendly, and optimistic. She had the gift of making everyone feel special, loved, and accepted. She had a warm, generous, and forgiving heart. She had a great sense of humor and zest for life and loved to laugh with people and have fun with them. She also had great courage and strength of character, and was loyal and faithful to her friends and family and to her commitments.



Fleda worked outside the home most of her life, and finished her career as a secretary at Utah State University. She also spent long hours sewing for her daughters, feeding cattle on the farm, gardening, painting her house, and numerous other chores. She was energetic, hard-working, and determined. She had many interests and a lifelong quest for learning and self-improvement. She always sought to know and adhere to the truth. She loved poetry and wrote many poems to express her love for her family, her faith, and the wonders of the world. She also loved music, dancing, and interior decorating. Her favorite class in High School was home economics, where she learned to cook and sew and to make home a pleasant place.



Fleda dearly loved her children, and often sacrificed her own comforts and dreams for their needs. She always tried to teach them right from wrong, and to live honorable lives. Her love and concern for her children and grandchildren remained strong till her last breath.



In her later years Fleda had health problems, particularly heart disease, which caused considerable pain and suffering and limited her activities. Six months before her passing she moved to Layton to live with her son, John, and his wife, Katy. She lived with them for the remainder of her days. As her passing drew near, she told John, "Tell everybody I love them." Fleda fought the good fight, finished her course, and kept the faith. She graduated from her mortal life with honors. Now all her pain and suffering have come to an end. Fleda has gone on to glory to be with the Lord and her loved ones who have passed on before.



Her family wishes to thank all her hospice care personnel for their compassionate and caring service to Fleda during her final days. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 1, 2018 at the Central Park LDS Chapel, 195 S. 100 E., in Logan, Utah. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery.