Forrest Elbert Smith, age 84, of Kearny, passed away on Oct. 29 at Hospice of the Valley in Mesa. He was born in Paris, IL on Feb. 13, 1928, son of Forrest Patrick and Viola Mae (Parker) Smith. He lived in Arizona for 65 years.

Forrest was schooled in Illinois and moved to AZ in 1947, to help his father find and mine gold. He served his country proudly in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in Korea.

After the war, he returned and opened up gas stations in Globe, Flagstaff and Phoenix. He also worked for Kennicott and Asarco as a Mill Foreman.

Forrest enjoyed his racecars. He owned and sponsored several of them. He liked to go camping in the White Mountains in Greer with his family.

He is preceded in death by his wife Wanda Laverne (Huggins) Smith on Nov. 25, 2004. Forrest is survived by his children: Roncie Jolene (Brad) Boydston of Kearny, Debbie Arelene (Chris) Mendoza of Florence, Forrest “Butch” Gene Smith of Kearny, Darenda Idell (Bob) Day of Kearny; his sisters, Mary Huggins and Geraldine Sate, both from Miami; 14 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be on Thurs., Nov. 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lamont Mortuary Chapel, Globe. A second visitation will be on Fri., Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. at Lamont Mortuary Chapel. Forest will be interred Globe Cemetery.

To comment on this article and others  visit the Copper Area News Facebook or send us an email at CBNSun@MinerSunBasin.com