Sam Smith
August 1, 1943 — December 15, 2015
Send Flowers Sam O. Smith August 1, 1943 - December 15, 2015 Sam O. Smith, 72 went to be with his Lord on December 15, 2015 at La Posada Mesilla Valley Hospice. Sam was born on August 1, 1943 in Fayetteville, AR to Chester Clarence and Viola Mae Smith. Sam was born and raised on a farm where he learned the values of life and hard work. He could build and make anything. He was the ty...
Send Flowers Sam O. Smith August 1, 1943 - December 15, 2015 Sam O. Smith, 72 went to be with his Lord on December 15, 2015 at La Posada Mesilla Valley Hospice. Sam was born on August 1, 1943 in Fayetteville, AR to Chester Clarence and Viola Mae Smith. Sam was born and raised on a farm where he learned the values of life and hard work. He could build and make anything. He was the type of guy that could do anything and figure out how to make something work and not just work, but work better. Sam served his country in the U.S. Air Force and was trained in a field that became his occupation, that of a Radar and Electronics Technician. He traveled the world and the United States with his work and enjoyed what he did. Sam was a "dronie" by trade, which means he flew remote controlled aircraft of all sizes and shapes. After leaving the Air Force, he moved to Green River, Utah where he worked on the Athena missile project - the beginning of the space shuttle program. After many TDY's to Las Cruces, he was hired on at Orogrande Range Camp in 1975 and worked for several contractors over the years until 2006 when he retired from a job that he really enjoyed. His work took him to numerous military bases in the United States - Ft. Polk, LA, Ft. Riley, KS, Ft. Carson, CO, Camp Lejeune, Nellis AFB, San Nicholas Island, in addition to tours in Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Abu Dhabi where he and his wife Karen first met. He convinced her that Las Cruces was the place...
Send Flowers Sam O. Smith August 1, 1943 - December 15, 2015 Sam O. Smith, 72 went to be with his Lord on December 15, 2015 at La Posada Mesilla Valley Hospice. Sam was born on August 1, 1943 in Fayetteville, AR to Chester Clarence and Viola Mae Smith. Sam was born and raised on a farm where he learned the values of life and hard work. He could build and make anything. He was the type of guy that could do anything and figure out how to make something work and not just work, but work better. Sam served his country in the U.S. Air Force and was trained in a field that became his occupation, that of a Radar and Electronics Technician. He traveled the world and the United States with his work and enjoyed what he did. Sam was a "dronie" by trade, which means he flew remote controlled aircraft of all sizes and shapes. After leaving the Air Force, he moved to Green River, Utah where he worked on the Athena missile project - the beginning of the space shuttle program. After many TDY's to Las Cruces, he was hired on at Orogrande Range Camp in 1975 and worked for several contractors over the years until 2006 when he retired from a job that he really enjoyed. His work took him to numerous military bases in the United States - Ft. Polk, LA, Ft. Riley, KS, Ft. Carson, CO, Camp Lejeune, Nellis AFB, San Nicholas Island, in addition to tours in Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Abu Dhabi where he and his wife Karen first met. He convinced her that Las Cruces was the place to be so they returned to New Mexico and married on July 9, 1988. Sam always liked nice vehicles and took pride in taking care of them - he enjoyed drag racing and even raced some in his younger years. Sam had a good heart and he loved the Lord. He never viewed cancer with a "why me" attitude but wanted this journey to mean something and to reach out and touch the lives of everyone he knew and loved. He didn't want his battle with cancer to be in vain. He met each day with a smile on his face and twinkle in his eye, no matter how much he hurt or how tired or weak he was. Sam was preceded in death by his parents and three older brothers, Arvil Smith, Stanley Smith, and Lawrence Smith. Sam is survived by his wife, Karen of Las Cruces, NM, one daughter, Stephanie Smith of Las Cruces, NM and one aunt, Joyce Smith of Mt. Ida, AR. A memorial service will be held to celebrate Sam's life on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at the Farm and Ranch Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, at 10:00 a.m. with visitation and reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Sam to La Posada Mesilla Valley Hospice, 299 E. Montana Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88005.
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