Keith Smith

Keith Smith "Smitty" was born on October 21, 1939, in Price, Utah. He passed away on March 17, 2025, at his home in Prineville, Oregon, at the age of 85. There will be a funeral service held March 28, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 11am (333 SE Idlewood Street, Prineville). Military Funeral Honors will follow at Juniper Haven Cemetery, at 2pm (1555 N. Main Street, Prineville).

Keith was the eighth of eleven children born to John Doyle Smith and Eva Ann Taylor Smith. He grew up in Price, Utah. His parents both worked as school janitors. While growing up, he did a lot of babysitting for his younger sisters and in the summer months he helped his parents clean the schools. Keith graduated from Price Carbon High School, Class of 1958. After graduation, Keith moved to Oregon to work with his brother in the lumber industry. 

Keith joined the United States Army in 1962 and served for 22 years. He was stationed in both Germany and France. He was an Army teletype operator which entailed transmitting and receiving messages; and he was a Drill Sergeant, which is one of the most demanding and difficult jobs in our Army. As a Drill Sergeant, Keith was a coach, counselor and mentor to hundreds of trainees, preparing young men to be combat-ready soldiers which, no doubt, impacted them for the rest of their lives. He left the Army as Drill Sergeant First Class, Seventh Enlisted Rank of E-7.

Keith met Dorothy L. “Dottie” Thompson at a New Year's Eve party when she was only 16.  Several years later on September 16, 1965, they were married in Seattle, Washington. They have celebrated 59 years of marriage. Keith and Dottie had four sons: Keith Robert, Jason Edward, Christopher Samuel, and Kevin Doyle. They lived in Veneta, Oregon; Eugene, Oregon; and Marcola, Oregon while raising their family. The family raised pigs and a few cows. Keith had many hobbies he enjoyed. His favorites were bowling, fishing, camping, traveling and golfing. He and his sons enjoyed bowling together and had a team called the "Smithereens".

Keith was employed for 36 years at J.H. Baxter's in Eugene, Oregon, and retired in 2001. He was a supervisor of the light standard department. J. H. Baxter's business was a preserving facility treating wood for light poles. After his retirement, he moved to Prineville, Oregon in 2002. 

He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 2225, and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where he served as executive secretary to several bishops and also served as a High Priest Group leader.

He leaves behind his wife, Dottie, and son Christopher, who both reside in Prineville, as well as a son Jason and his wife Dayle, who reside in Springfield, Oregon, and a son Kevin and his wife Gina who also reside in Springfield, Oregon. Keith and Dottie have seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Keith was preceded in death by his parents, all his siblings, and his eldest son, Keith Robert “KR” Smith.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, missionary fund.