Adrian Paul Smith

Adrian Paul Smith departed from our sight and this earthly life on June 11, 2021 at age 65. Freed from the constraints of a failing body and mind, he was welcomed home by his parents Winifred Amy Osborn and Horace Henry Smith who preceded him in death. He is survived by his two older sisters Laraine (Leon) Nielson, Judith (Brent) Nielsen; his daughter Hilary (Josh) Allred, two grandchildren Elizabeth "Lizzie" and Lincoln Allred, who were his greatest joy at the end. 

Adrian was born on December 08, 1955 in Salt Lake City, Utah to British immigrants Winifred and Horace. He attended South High School and maintained lifelong friendships that were born from his experiences there. Adrian served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Netherlands (Holland) from 1975-1977. He retained a native's accent and proficiency with the Dutch language the rest of his days. A University of Utah graduate, his love for his alma mater was as deep and tangible as his own flesh and bone, choosing to brandish his fanaticism by emblazoning it on his prosthetic leg.

While his physical stature was great at 6'10", it was dwarfed by the size of his heart, and his often-unique ability to share an inappropriate joke at exactly the wrong time. Cheerfully irreverent, he made friends as easily as some people breathe. Travelling with Adrian was often more of a tour of his friendships, as he somehow already had a friend or acquaintance at the destination. He had an uncanny knowledge of geography, which he used as a way to catalogue the best places to get a good malted shake, or a bite to eat, but only if he had a coupon.

An avid fan of sports in all categories, any conversation could wait until commercials. Adrian had the memory of a database and the recall to match any computer when it came to identifying music, and provide a story behind each song. Adrian’s love for board games and vintage video-games would quickly become evident to those playing with or against him as he expertly used his well-honed strategies to his advantage. Plagued by health issues, Adrian regretfully relinquished his time hunting and fishing, but was always quick with a story that showed how much he loved those hobbies and the friends he shared them with.

Upon receiving a terminal diagnosis in February, Adrian called upon his inherited British stubbornness, and expressed his wish to meet his grandson, due in June. Mystifying his doctors and nurses by outlasting a timeline given in days, he carried on until the day after their introduction in person.

His daughter-by-birth, Hilary, and his daughter-by-choice, Colleen, would like to thank all who diligently and quietly helped make him comfortable and retain as much dignity as can be hoped for during a difficult time. 

Private family services to be held at a later date.

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