Beloved son, brother, uncle and friend, Doren Wayne Smith, 56, passed away July 5, 2012 in Escalante. He was born August 5, 1955 in Panguitch to Jed Earl and Garneal Porter Smith.
Doren was well known and loved by everyone in the Escalante/Boulder area because of his willingness to help in any way. Helping not only those he served through his job as a South Central phone service technician, but in anything that he was capable of helping with. He had a way of befriending everyone with a smile, a casual conversation or a pleasant jest. His underlying caring came through in all his moods to comfort those around him.
His love of sports and competitive spirit surfaced in so many of his activities. Those who took him on in competitions of any type knew they had a battle to endure because he would pour all his efforts into the win; bantering lightheartedly with those he conquered or creating new challenges for those who conquered him. He studied statistics of professional sports from a young age making him hard to beat in fantasy sports or sports trivia. Doren was a devoted fan and an unfailing supporter of the Escalante High School boys and girls basketball teams. His extensive viewing of sports gave him a good eye for the game and he was not shy about informing the officials of erroneous calls.
His support of the youth in the area went beyond just sports fan. He would not turn away any student’s fund-raising at his door even if it left him with more purchased items than he needed. During visits with friends he has been known to sit down with the children of the family to help them with homework, encouraging achievement in academics and sports.
Doren was well known in the community for his skills in landscaping and gardening. He amassed large quantities of natural rock, working them into walls, walkways, and artistic displays. His rock work, tied together with his gifted abilities with flora and energetic drive to construct, created a beautiful, useful yard that is pleasing to wander through. The vegetation he cared for included a fruit orchard and a large garden that was generously donated to anyone who would ask.
Doren was a dedicated hunter. He knew the countryside from his early days of hunting with his father and his love to explore the area around Escalante. He and his father were of the same mind and they worked together as a team when hunting. He shared this hunting talent with others, helping them become better hunters.
He was a devoted son to his mother, visiting his mother at the care center regularly. His visits were never short and included fruit and produce from his garden, visits with other residents and nursing staff.
Doren is survived by mother, Garneal, Panguitch; brother, Dane (Sharon) Smith, Firestone, CO; Vida (Dee) Frost, Monticello; Tina (Ron) Fuller, Valentine, NE; many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by father, Jed.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in the Escalante High School Auditorium, 800 East Hwy 12. Friends may meet with the family one hour prior to the services. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.