James L. "Jim" Smith, 74, of Evans, died on Monday, March 13, 2006 at the Hospice & Palliative Care of Northern Colorado Inpatient Unit.
He was born on November 30, 1931 to Ernest and Esther (Polsley) Smith in Braddyville, Iowa. He moved to Greeley with his family in 1943. However, at heart, he remained a small town Iowa boy all his life. He loved to tell stories of growing up in Braddyville and Clarinda, Iowa.
In 1952 he married Joann Sundqvist. They had four children. He enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1949 and served aboard the USCGC Iroquois in the Pacific. After discharge, he entered the electrical trade working in residential and industrial wiring. He held both journeyman and master electrician licenses. In 1977 he became a Weld County electrical inspector and worked in that position until his retirement in 1991.
He enjoyed working on projects around his yard; building a patio, fences, gates and sidewalks. He always added some unique feature to distinguish his work from the ordinary. He would say, "There's not another one like it in the city, or county, or state", and he was probably right. He also enjoyed gardening, especially growing and then canning his own tomatoes. He had a quick wit and dry sense of humor.
Survivors include his wife, Joann Smith of Evans; a daughter, Jamie Askvig of Greeley; 3 sons, Rick Smith, Ron Smith and his wife Debbie and Rory Smith all of Greeley; 5 grandchildren, Jessica Reid and husband Kevin, Stacey James and husband Tre and David Smith all of Greeley; Amy Smith of Colorado Springs and Christina Smith of Commerce City, CO 5 great grandsons, Kadin, Caston and Jace Reid and Pierce James all of Greeley and DaMarquis Madrid of Commerce City; 3 sisters, Doris Overdick of Imperial Beach, CA, Ethel Schlotthauer of Chula Vista, CA and Elaine Adcock of DesMoines, IA and one brother, Eldon Smith of Elk Bend, ID. He is preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Lyle, Lynn and John Smith.
A memorial service to celebrate Jim's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 16, 2006 at the Moser Funeral Service Chapel, 3501 S. 11th Avenue in Evans. Inurnment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens.