Teri Rae Smith
November 14,1946 - May 22, 2019
Teri Rae Brown Smith’s journey began on November 14, 1946 in Provo, Utah. She is the oldest daughter of Norman “Gus” Brown and Mary Lou Barrett Brown and sister to Margine Brown Spotts. She loved Christmas mornings with her sister. They were so excited about Christmas, they used to sing to wake their parents up to open presents. As a mother, she was always the first one awake on Christmas morning, including last Christmas.
Our mother married my dad, Wallace Ellis Smith, on June 16, 1966. We always loved stories from their early married years; hanging from a chairlift, burning down the laundromat, and all the great stories of her talking in her sleep. Most importantly, she was a critical part of our dad’s journey by putting him through college working as an office manager at H&R Block.
Our mother had six children and children in law; the oldest brother Eric and his wife Michelle, Gus and his wife Erin, Pat and his wife Anna, Marcie and her husband Jeremy, Jodi and her husband Scott, and Tim and his wife Annalise. Our parents have always valued experiences over things. We toured Europe for five weeks, had multiple ski trips in Vail, sang Love and Rockets in the car and longed for “Hot Showers.”
She expected a lot from her kids, but we have all been able to do some really cool things because she pushed us. She committed from the beginning to see each of us off to school in the morning and attend all of our extracurricular activities.
That is a tradition she and our father continued with their 20 grandchildren and 2 (soon to be 3) great grandchildren. They have taken at least a dozen rides on the “Polar Express”, attended numerous dance and acrobatic performances, and sports events. It wasn’t uncommon for them to drive several hours to spend one day with their grandkids and then drive home.
She always found opportunities to serve. She was a Stake Relief Society President and counselor, Ward Relief Society President, Young Women’s President, Primary President, taught Sunday School, YSA advisor, coordinated a stake road show, service missionary at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for 6 years, and a full time missionary in Tonga. Our mom and dad volunteered at Thanksgiving Point for 5 years. She was the Vice President of the Thanksgiving Point advisory board and next in line for the presidency. Even at the end, she looked for ways to serve.
Our mom and dad have had an amazing journey. They hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, climbed Ayres Rock in Australia, hiked to Preacher’s Pulpit in Norway, walked the Great Wall of China, taken a cruise on an active Naval ship, seen several Broadway plays, biked over 200 miles in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, rode a camel in Egypt, hiked the Wave, rode in Mardi Gras parades, visited Iguasu Falls in Brazil, toured the Treasury in Petra, roamed the halls of La Hambra in Spain, walked through the Coliseum in Rome, hiked to the top of Mount Timpanogas twice, taken several trips to Lake Powell, saw the Crown Jewels in England, and taken a tour of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
Her journey in this life ended in the early hours of May 22, 2019 with several of her children and husband by her side. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, May 25th at 11:00 am at the Heritage 1st Ward Building, 587 South Saratoga Road, Saratoga Springs, Utah, where Viewings will be held Friday, May 24th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm and prior to services from 9:00 to 10:30 am. Graveside Services will be held Tuesday, May 28th at 12:30 pm in the Provo City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to www.ourrescue.org in the name of Teri R. Brown.
