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- McDougal Funeral Home.
Helene K. Smith, age 94, passed away peacefully in her home on May 28, 2018 with her daughter by her side. The past two years were filled with many health obstacles, yet she endured through trial after trial until her body finally gave out. She did it on her terms!
Helene was born October 22, 1923 in her family home to Walter Affleck Kerr and Marion Belnap Kerr on University Street in Salt Lake City. This began her lifelong connection and love for the University of Utah. Her father was a Professor of Language at the U. of U., and at that time all faculty children attended school on campus at the Stewart School grades kindergarten through eighth grade. She then attended and graduated from East High School. She attended the University of Utah and graduated with an Elementary teaching degree and began teaching kindergarten at nineteen years of age.
She met her future husband A. Willis Smith while at the "U." as he was finishing up needed classes for Pre-med. They married on June 24, 1948 and left for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Willis was accepted into the Temple University Medical School. She taught kindergarten while living there.
After returning home to Salt Lake City, Helene found another kindergarten teaching position in town, and they settled in while Willis did his residence at LDS Hospital. Helene was always involved with music, learning to play the piano as a child and organ as a teenager. She excelled in both which led her to become organist and chorister for most of her life. She sang in the Salt Lake Oratorio Society, where her love of Handel's Messiah began.
With the arrival of their first child, Willis K., the home in Taylorsville was purchased to be close to her husband's private practice. Christine joined the family two years later. Helene quit teaching to raise her children and support all of their interests and endeavors. She never missed any performances, events or games that her children participated in.
Helene was called to serve on the Primary General Board, serving faithfully for eight years under the leadership of Sister LaVerne Parmley. She was on the Days of '47 Children's Parade Committee for over thirty-five years, PTA President, and served numerous callings in the LDS Church.
She was asked by the new Mayor to become the first Arts Council Chairman for the City of Taylorsville and, with her council, created Taylorsville Dayzz, which is now bigger than she ever imagined, along with many other memorable city productions and events. She played the organ at the Jordan River Temple every week for nearly twenty years until the temple closed for renovations in 2016. She led the Taylorsville City Messiah Sing-Along for twelve years and the Taylorsville Utah Stake Messiah for thirty-two years and kept the Taylorsville Easter Cantata tradition alive until her health declined. She received many awards and accolades for her volunteer service, which will be surely missed.
The Heavenly Choirs are rejoicing as one of their own has come home. We will miss the talents and dedication of a "one-of-a-kind" woman. We love you.
She is survived by a brother, Walter Belnap Kerr (Rosemary), Blairsville, Georgia; son, Willis Kerr Smith (Gayleen); daughter, Christine Ann Smith; grandson, Eric W. (fiancee, Kim) Smith (Cozette Josephine aka CJ); granddaughters, Kierra (Colby S.) Maughan (Morgan, Ashlyn, and Jessie), Alyssa (Michael P.) McLaughlin II (James and Kahlan), and Heidi (Joshua D.) Sloan (Brock, Derek, and Lincoln); and many, many friends and former students whose lives were made better by her talents and influence.
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1923 - 2018 (94 years)
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