Gerald Lloyd Smith

Dr. Gerald "Gerry" Lloyd Smith died peacefully at home on December 15, 2022 at the
age of 96. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Ellen Frances Compton
Smith.
Gerry is survived by his children Meredith (Dexter)-Cheyenne; Todd-OR; Bruce–MD:
Phillip-UT; Benjamin-MO; Daniel-UT; Stephen-Korea; Rosemary (Newbry)–WA; 34
grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Gerry had a rich and wonderful life, spanning most of the 20th century. He was born on
August 18, 1926 in Casper, WY to Lloyd Gaston Smith and Lucy Winnifrid Fairhall. Most
of his formative years were on the island of Aruba where his father worked as General
Manager of the Lago Oil Refinery. He graduated from Aruba High School in 1943, and
went to Hamilton, NY to study at Colgate University where he graduated with a degree
in Chemistry in 1947. He served in the US Navy from 1944-1946 and was stationed at
the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Chicago, IL, and then Corpus Christi, Texas
where he was trained as an electronic technician. He went to Washington University in
St. Louis, MO for Medical School and graduated in 1951. He moved to Denver in 1955
after his residency to work as an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado. In
1956, Gerry moved to Cheyenne to join Dr. Russell Williams' Ear, Nose and Throat
practice. Shortly after he moved to Cheyenne, he met and married Ellen Compton on
August 29, 1959 in Biloxi, Mississippi. They were later sealed in 1960 in the LDS Salt
Lake City Temple. In 1960, Gerry started his own Ear, Nose, and Throat practice in
Cheyenne. Gerry and Ellen made their home in Cheyenne where they raised all eight
of their children.
First and foremost, Gerry Smith was a family man and spent many hours working and
playing with his two daughters and six sons. Gerry was an active and dedicated
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He held many lay leadership
positions within the local congregation including Elders Quorum President, Bishop and
High Councilor. Professionally, he practiced medicine with Bill Gibbons and Martha
Silver providing services ranging from audiology to allergy treatments. He sat on the
Wyoming state Medical Commission, was an examiner of the Wyoming Nursing Homes
as well as a Doctor for the Wyoming State Legislature when it was in session. He was
also a ring doctor for the Wyoming state boxing club and railroad doctor for the Union
Pacific for 40 years.
In his free time he enjoyed all outdoor activities available in the Rocky Mountains from
kayaking to fly fishing and hunting big-game. It wasn’t uncommon for the basement of
the Smith home to become a makeshift butcher shop often turning out elk steaks and
antelope burgers. He was a co-owner in AeroVentures, with Bill Snyder and logged over
1800 hours flying often in adverse weather. He loved singing opera and could recite
poetry he had learned in 4th grade in 4 different languages. He was a generous and
witty individual who was passionate about his faith.
After he retired in 1996, Gerry and Ellen served three medical missions and two temple
missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over a span of 20 years in
the following places: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Quito, Ecuador; Morristown,
New Jersey; and Denver Colorado. They left an enduring legacy of love and service in
each of these places, strengthening and inspiring those they served. Gerry and Ellen
were also temple workers at the Denver and Ft. Collins temples – a place that they both
dearly loved to be.
In the two years since Ellen’s passing, Gerry was fortunate enough to spend meaningful
time with all of his children, providing an opportunity to create valuable memories and
record a substantial family history.
A celebration of Gerry’s life is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 309 Western Hills Blvd., Cheyenne.
A virtual option will be available to those who cannot attend in person by going to
www.schradercares.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Latter-day Saint Charities at
www.latterdaysaintcharities.org