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Willis Dan Smith II
1944 - 2017 Obituary Condolences Gallery
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Willis Dan Smith II was born (5-3-44) and raised in Salt Lake City, UT. His parents were Emma LaRue Gehrke and Willis Dan Smith. He has a younger sister, Janet Trelawney, whom he loved to tease on family trips around the desert southwest, and a younger brother, Steve, with whom he shared a literary love of Hemingway. Janet still resides in Salt Lake City where several of Dan's nephews and nieces live. Steve and his wife, Martha, live in Portland, OR. Dan married Mary MacCalman and they had two daughters. Lisa Mary lives in Portland, OR with her husband Dann Wheeler and their two children, Emma and Miles. Dan's second daughter, Angela Tracy Smith, lives in Encinitas, CA. Upon graduation from South High School in 1962, Dan served in the army. He then worked his way through college and graduate school at the University of Utah. After receiving his MBA, his first job was at First Security Bank in Salt Lake. He eventually became one of the country's top public pension fund managers. He oversaw billions of dollars in investments for two states-first Utah and then Oregon. He married his current wife, Polly Weber, in 1995 and lived in Portland, OR. He and Polly travelled widely and often (Africa, China and Antarctica), fulfilling his childhood dream to travel. When his travels ended due to health issues, he retired to Tucson, Arizona where he treasured the seasonal changes of the desert. While investments were his career and travel his avocation, he was a man with many interests--World War II history, flying, being a "desert rat," John Wayne movies, and Jonathan Winters' humor. One memory he loved to reflect on was piloting a WWII Flying Fortress (B-17) over Portland. He was respected for his work ethic, honesty, and loyalty to friends. Those who knew him will remember him for his generosity of spirit, humor, and wonderful laugh. He will be missed. The family would like to extend its thanks to Casa de la Luz Hospice for their timely and compassionate care for Dan and his entire family. No services will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or Alzheimer's Association.
Published in Salt Lake Tribune from May 6 to
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Richard Jacques
Dan was such a great friend to me. We met nearly 60 years ago and--during all those years, we never completely lost touch with each other. Through thick and thin (from the sidewalks of Salt Lake City to the streets of Paris) he was always with me, if not physically then in spirit. We shared so much laughter (and some tears) over those years. Mostly my tears; his laughter. He was always so much stronger and in control of himself than I was, but his heart was just as tender.
When his loving wife, Polly, informed me that Dan had passed I felt a limb fall from my most treasured tree of friendships, Dan, however, will never be totally gone from my life. His passing ends a physical existence, but not an eternal connection.
Good friends know all your stories, but great friends provide the pages on which you write them. Thank you, Dan. RIP ole, bud.
Rj