DannaDee Smith

DannaDee Adams Smith, age 86 of Roosevelt, beloved daughter, sister, wife, and mother, passed away peacefully at Timpanogos Hospital in Orem, Utah with her son Russ at her side. Danna was born April 29, 1938 in Vernal, Utah to Arza G. and Clytie E. Marshall Adams, the youngest of seven children. Three of her siblings passed away before she was born, Betty Rae, Terrence Glen, and Earldine. She was raised with two older brothers, Max and Keith, and an older sister, Amber Tebbs, who preceded her in death by just two days.

Danna attended elementary school in Maeser and started high school at Uintah High School. Her family moved to Duchesne, Utah because her father accepted a job as a meat cutter at Cole’s Market. There she attended her junior year. She then moved to live with her Uncle Wilford and Aunt Glenna in Sandy, Utah where she spent her senior year and graduated from Jordan High School. In school, Danna excelled greatly in Thomas shorthand, business machines and other secretarial skills. After high school, she returned to Vernal where she met the love of her life, John Held Smith. They were married on 25 September 1959 in the Salt Lake City temple.

 Danna and John lived in Maeser, where they welcomed five children, a daughter Erledine, a son John Clark who lived just a few hours, a son Russell Adams, a daughter Lydia, and a son Brian Foster. In 1971, the family was able to purchase her grandfather’s farm in Dry Fork canyon where they raised their children. 

In 1976, Danna and John became the owners and managers of Basin Auto Supply Company in Vernal, Utah, which they operated until their retirement in 2010. Danna was well known in the Basin for her beautiful singing voice. She participated in community theater and was in a popular show choir group called Select Edition under the direction of Reed Hanson. 

Danna was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served in many callings including Relief Society president, choir director, and organist. She also served a stake mission with her husband in the Dutch John branch and served faithfully as an organist in the Vernal temple for twenty years. Her faith remained of vital importance to her throughout her life. 

She is preceded in death by her husband John, her son John Clark, her parents Arza and Clytie Adams, her brothers Glen, Max and Keith Adams, and her sisters Betty Rae, Earldine, and Amber, a granddaughter, Jenny Wright, and a great granddaughter, Jersey Lee Wright. 

Danna is survived by four children, Erledine (Jay) Wright, Russell (Irbis) Smith, Lydia (Philip) Jones, Brian (Joye) Smith; nineteen grandchildren, David, Kim, Kellie, Logan, Adam, Cole, Braiden, Setarah, Ericca, Reagan, Harrison, William, Heather, Nina, Jeffery, Sara, Amber, Brian, and Ammon. She is also survived by thirty-one great grandchildren. 

A funeral service for DannaDee will be held Saturday January 18, 2025 at 11am at the LDS chapel at 250 W. 200 N. Roosevelt, UT. A viewing will be held Friday 6-8pm at Blackburn Mortuary in Vernal and Saturday 10am at the church in Roosevelt. Interment will take place in the Dry Fork cemetery.