Norman Smith Jr.

Norman E. Smith Jr. passed away two days shy of his 87th birthday on January 18, 2021 at his home in St. George, Utah.  He was born in East Orange, New Jersey on January 20, 1934 to Harriet Rhine Smith and Norman Eagle Smith Sr.

Norman has two sister Norma , now deceased March 14, 2014 and Amy who still resides in New Jersey.

He married Mary Ann DeVito on August 26, 1978.  Mary Ann had two daughters by a prior marriage (Lynn & Deborah).  Norman had two sons by a prior marriage (Kirk & Perry).  Mary Ann passed away on April 24, 2015.

Norman’s two sons: Kirk R. Smith living in Florida and Perry W. Smith and his wife now living with Norman in St. George, Utah.

Norman attended Forest Avenue Grade School in his home town of Verona, New Jersey - then on to Junior High and Henry B. Whitehorne High School - Graduated High School in 1952.

Norman joined the U.S. Navy in 1955.  After Boot Camp, Norman was assigned as an Electronics Technician to the USS Arneb (AKA 56).  The Arneb was an Attack Cargo Ship that had been assigned as the Fleet Ship for Operation Deep Freeze and attached to Task Force 43.  Norman was assigned to the  USS Arneb during Operation Deep Freeze II & III 1956 - 1957; this included two cruises to Antarctica.  The USS Arneb carried out responsibilities which included building new bases and re-supplying existing bases on the continent of Antarctica.  This included being the Operation Center for Admiral George J. Dufek under the command of Admiral Arleigh Burke, Chief of Naval Operations at the time.

A brief summary of training Norman received while in the Navy included many months of shipboard electronics training (radar & communications).  Norman also received many hours of training on how to survive in an environment of extreme weather conditions such as found in Antarctica.

On one occasion, while the Arneb was on its way to one of the  bases it was resupplying, the ship became trapped by Pack Ice.  The ship received heavy damage from icebergs.  Newspapers reported the ship was in danger of sinking.  Coast Guard icebreakers were able to free the ship allowing crew to make repairs.

On Norman’s tours of duty, he spent time in such places as Panama, Sidney and Melbourne Australia, Christ Church New Zealand, Cape Town and Johannesburg Africa, Montevideo Uruguay and Buenos Aries South America.

Upon leaving the United States Navy, Norman returned to Verona, New Jersey.  Norman decided to make a career in the Electronics Industry.  Using the training he gained in the Navy, he worked as an electronics technician for several small electronics manufacturing companies.  With this valuable experience, Norman moved on to larger companies.  He was hired by Monsanto Instrument Company into their engineering group.  Monsanto offered to move he and his family to their new design facility in Boulder Colorado, all expenses paid.  After about a year, Norman was hired by Storage Technology for about 10 years.  Hearing of Norman’s success at Storage Technology, Coors Electronics Ceramic Company offered Norman a position with their Golden Colorado facility.  Their largest customer required they build a Metrology capability into their facility.  Norman accepted their offer to become Metrology Manager.

While at Storage Technology, Norman and Mary Ann built a home in the mountains of Colorado where they lived for about 20 years.  At that time they became aware that Mary Ann’s parents in Palm Harbour, Florida, were in need of caregivers.  Mary Ann and Norman left their jobs, sold their home, and moved to Florida to become caregivers for Mary Ann’s parents.

Norman was baptized and confirmed into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in April 2000. Norman and Mary Ann moved to St. George, Utah in 2000.

A memorial service will be held Friday, January 22, 2021 at 1:00 pm at the Cotton Acres Ward Chapel located at 2583 E. 350 N., St. George, Utah 84790