Thelmer Smith Thelmer Smith Jr., 89, of Tempe, Arizona, passed away March 11, 2022. He was born Dec. 29, 1932, in Phoenix, to Thelmer and Grace Smith. A viewing will be held from 9 to 10 a.m., on Saturday, March 19, at the Tempe LDS Stake Center, located at 2707 S. College Ave., in Tempe, with funeral following at 10:30 a.m. Internment will begin at 1 p.m., on Monday, March 21, at Woodruff Cemetery. Thelmer, also known as “Smitty”, is survived by wife, Iva; eight children, Stephen (Brenda), David (Mary), Annette (Dan) Klein, Jolene Washatka, Diane (Bruce) Perkins, Michelle (Mike) Young, Kent (Rachelle) and Neil (Melynda); 56 grandchildren, 59 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren, with more due this year. He was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law, Tom Washatka. On Sept. 5, 1953, Thelmer married Iva Heward of Woodruff and they made Willcox their home in 1954. He worked alongside his father at Willcox Auto Parts and continued to manage the store after his father had passed. Thelmer was elected to the city council becoming the youngest mayor ever elected in Willcox in 1971. He served six years as mayor, then served two more years as vice mayor. They moved to Tempe in 1980 and established a printing and advertising business. He worked with the Boy Scouts of America for many years and received the Silver Beaver award. Thelmer was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in many leadership positions. He and his wife served in the Nashville Tennessee Mission and in the Arizona Tempe Mission office. He enjoyed and was very involved in working with the family history program. Other hobbies included music, drawing, photography, writing and being in the outdoors. His most prized possession and legacy is his family. Owens Livingston Mortuary of Show Low handled the arrangements.
