Hyrum Shumway

On March 26, 2011 Hyrum Smith Shumway, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and World War II hero, returned home to his Heavenly Father and his beloved bride Sarah Bagley, who passed away in 1992 from breast cancer. Born on November 27, 1921 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Charles Nephi Shumway and Zitelle Hellstrom and raised in Lovell, Wyoming, Smith graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1943 and joined the U.S. Army. Assigned to the 1st Infantry Division as a 2nd Lieutenant, Smith landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944 and led an infantry platoon in the Big Red One across Normandy, France. On July 27, 1944 the explosion of an anti-tank mine riddled his body with shrapnel and cost him both his eyes. Following three years of hospitalization and rehabilitation, he secured employment in Baltimore, Maryland as a rehabilitation counselor for other blind people. In the ensuing 8 years he placed more blind people into gainful employment than any other rehabilitation counselor in the nation. Once he had proved to himself that he could support a family, he proposed to his college sweetheart with "if you will read the mail, drive the car, and sort the socks, I will do the rest." They were married for the eternities on September 1, 1948 in the Salt Lake Temple. Over the next 10 years they welcomed 8 children: Ruth, Susan, Sondra, Gloria, Joan, Mary, and twins Joseph and Elizabeth. In 1954 the family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where Smith served as State Director of Education for the Deaf and Blind for 32 years. During this time he also served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as bishop of the Cheyenne 1st Ward for 7 years, and later as stake patriarch for 17 years. Following his retirement in 1986, Smith and Sarah served as full-time LDS missionaries in the London South Mission. During his retirement years he organized several small bands to visit rest homes and cheer up the residents with his harmonica and violin skills. He also thrilled two generations of school classmates of his children and grandchildren with surprisingly professional magic shows. In recent years Smith returned several times to Normandy, France and was instantly embraced by the local French people, who greeted him with hugs, kisses, tears, media interviews, and autograph requests. He became to them a living memorial of the sacrifices of so many Americans for their freedom. In 2006 a grateful nation awarded him the French Legion of Honor medal, originally created by Napoleon and the highest honor France can bestow. Smith's courage, faith, optimism, and love have inspired all who knew him. It is difficult to wallow in self-pity when confronted with Smith's cheerful disposition, love, and sincere gratitude for the blessings of life in spite of severe limitations. Smith is survived by his brother Charlie Shumway of Vernal, Utah, sister Beth Moore of St. George, Utah, 7 of his 8 children, 40 of his 41 grandchildren, and all of his 29 great grandchildren. Interment will be in the Lakeview Cemetery at 2:00pm on April 1, 2011, with full military honors. A Celebration of his Life will follow at 4:00 pm at the Cheyenne LDS Stake Center at 309 Western Hills Boulevard. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Perpetual Education Fund or the Humanitarian Fund of the LDS Church, or to the H. Smith Shumway Family Seminary Scholarship thru the LCCC Foundation. "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." I Cor. 13:12

Interment

Lakeview Cemetery

Pershing Blvd

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Following the interment service, a Celebration of his Life will be held by his family at 4:0p p.m. at the LDS Stake Center at 309 Western Hills Blvd., Cheyenne.