Douglas LeRoy Smith 1948 ~ 2011

Douglas L. Smith died June 22, 2011 in Gargnano, Italy. He was on his dream trip, riding a motorcycle through the Alps. Doug was born August 24, 1948, in Ogden Utah to Keith S. and Marjorie Dickson Smith. He spent his first eight years in Sunset Utah and then moved to Salt Lake City. Doug graduated from East High School in 1966 and subsequently entered the Army Reserves. He married Patricia Duehlmeier January 21,1980 in Salt Lake City. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Doug trained to become a Perfusionist and worked in that profession for more than 30 years, at the University of Utah Medical Center and the Salt Lake V.A. hospital. He participated in the first artificial heart procedure on Barney Clark and was an active and integral part of the Perfusion community. He had his pilot's license, and for years enjoyed flying his plane. Doug owned his first motorcycle at age 16, and there were very few years between then and now that he did not own at least one. He loved to ride and said it was the closest he could come to flying without being in a plane. He was the worlds best hugger, a kind and generous man and a loyal friend. He loved his children with every fiber of his being. He will be greatly missed by all of his extended family, but especially by his wife and children, he was their rock. He is preceded in death by his parents and his older brother and riding buddy, Dickson Smith (Susan). Survived by his wife, Patricia, son Spencer, daughter Laura, sister Linda Garff (Gary), brother Sherman Smith (Nancy) and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.