Charles Brown Smurthwaite

Life of Charles Brown Smurthwaite · 25 January 2015 · 0 Comments Charles Brown Smurthwaite

Born: December 24, 1903 - Wellsville, UT Died: October 25, 2002- Sandy, UT

•CHEERFUL DISPOSITION, WELL KNOWN AND LIKED BY EVERYONE•PROUD OF HIS FAMILY AND HERITAGE.

•EVER FAITHFUL AND ACTIVE IN FULFILLING MANY CHURCH CALLINGS•MISCHIEVOUS AS A CHILD, BUT VERY DUTIFUL IN MANY HOUSEHOLD CHORES

•LOVED TO SING AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY LEAD OTHERS IN SINGING. (SANG BARITONE LIKE HIS FATHER.)•REPUTATION AS A MAN “WHO GOT THINGS DONE.” FREQUENTLY ORGANIZED EVENTS AND PARTIES

•SUPER SALESMAN AND PROMOTER. DAPPER DRESSER WHO LOVED COLORFUL CLOTHES, SHOES AND HATS •KNOWN AS “MR DEMOCRAT” LED CAMPAIGNS FOR MANY DEMOCRAT POLITICIANS

Charles Brown Smurthwaite was born in a small town amidst the foothills near the Wellsville Mountains where trails invited exploration and provided education and knowledge, and where the friendly society provided refinement and enlightenment. He was born at the dawning of a new century into a family that had been part of the western pioneering movement. Acquaintances described Charles's forebears as "one of the most distinguished and talented families in all of Cache Valley." From his English ancestry he inherited dash and daring which was coupled with quick wit and the generous warm-heartedness of his Brown forefathers. The Smurthwaites enjoyed a high standard of hospitality. Unpardonable sins were meanness of spirit and high-handed pride. No one was to be ignored or overlooked, no matter their age, color, or religion.

Charles was a handsome lad, adventurous and active, small of stature standing about 5 feet 9 inches, possessing a chin held high and a smile for all. His mother and older sisters he speaks of with relish, and he offers expressions of deep pride in the accomplishments of his brothers. His father's dapper appearance became an important model for Charles's own dress code. No one else we know has red, and green, and gold patent leather shoes to wear for special occasions. His many hats and coordinated jackets serve him well. For all of his adult life he was the one who bought shoes for his mother and father. She wore a size 4 1/2 eee! They were hard to find. His dad liked regular soft leather shoes, “the best you could buy at the time.”

Charles’ Wellsville Boyhood

As the new baby boy born after two boys and four girls, Charles received much attention and adoration. He remembers his mother dressing him all in white and standing him on the table as she combed his long curls.

The twinkle in his mischievous eyes came early in childhood. No matter what the infraction of the rules, Charles remained well-liked by all. Scalawag that he was, his sister Mary was the one who became exasperated the quickest. "Mama," she would say, "make him eat slower." Or "Mama, make Charles stop spitting!" Charles admits he was an unruly boy.

 In reality, his mother, Margaret was the disciplinarian in the family.  Alfred didn't have much to do with it.  "My dad only had to rap me a few times,” Charles explains. When Charles's mother became very angry she would call one of the girls to fetch a willow switch.  Often before that sister came back the others would paddle his backside.  When his mother switched him it didn't hurt much at all but he would hoop and holler just the same.  

 He did have chores to do at home.  In their house Charles remembered a beautiful flowered carpet and the large double parlor with its big fireplace.  He had to go out and gather wood and coal for that fireplace.  He also remembers two big bookcases on the wall of the parlor all filled with beautiful books.  All the family members were readers and knew the classics well.  Charles also had to feed the horses, Molly and Billy, and take care of Catherine and the other two cows pitching hay down to them from the top of the barn.  Sometimes he would have to gather the eggs.  His mother used to have a special wash day.  She had two large tubs; one had a washer with a handle on it that Charles was supposed to turn.  As soon as his mother went into the house, Charles would run to play at the neighbors.  He hated that job!  However, he would willingly scrub the floor on his hands and knees like his mother taught him.  She often said, "I would rather have Charles B. clean than any of my daughters!"  

At the back of the home in Wellsville there was a steep sleigh riding hill that all the kids in town used to ride down. At other times there would be singing and parlor games for all in the Smurthwaite home. Charles remembers they were all readers. In addition they would gather around Mary at the piano and sing for hours together. "The Smurthwaites were all musicians," he would often say.

Cousins abounded in Cache Valley.  They helped to advise and guide Charles.  The Gunnell cousins would often call on him to go with them to do their chores and he would go with them to get their cows in the pasture and do other things.  They like his help and to Charles it seemed like play.  As he recollects the various sorts of activities they engaged in he admits "Some of my cousins were regular hooligans."  Still he remembers them fondly and idealizes their boyhood antics.  

 In the country of farmland and dirt roads Charles found riding a horse to be a matter of necessity as well as a sport.  Good horsemanship was taken for granted.  He could trick ride while standing on the back of old Molly.  One time his sister Grace recalled seeing Charles ride helter-skelter around the Wellsville Tabernacle while primary was in session.  She was appalled as everyone witnessed her brother’s wayward performance!  

When Charles was eight or nine years old, his father began inviting Charles B. to accompany him on his visiting round to the farmers of Cache County and Southern Idaho. His father liked the company. Few details into the world of commerce and grain transport are told, but are easy enough to imagine a wide-eyed boy on the seat with his father, watching and helping with the sacks of grain and seeds. Oftentimes, Alfred would hand the wagon reins over to his son and let him drive the routes while Alfred slept. Charles gloried in the experiences.

Charles's oldest brother, Alfred Tennyson, was his idol. Always studious and gentle, A.T. seemed to do everything right. He introduced Belgium-hair Rabbits into Cache Valley and knew all about them. He also knew about dogs and was an AKA registered judge of beagle dogs for many years. It was on Thanksgiving Day in 1910 that Charles remembers the Brown and Gunnell cousins running to inform his parents of a shooting accident. The Maughan boys and the Brown and Gunnell cousins were good friends with Armand, Charles' next older brother. They had all gone duck hunting that day and Armand had slipped while crossing a creek and his gun had accidentally gone off. It was that hunting accident that took the life of his wonderful brother. The towns people helped bring Armand's body into the parlor where they laid it on two tables. Charles's last recollection was seeing the drops of water fall from Armand's coat. Armand’s tragic death affected young Charles. In later years, Charles would forbid his sons from hunting or owning a hunting rifle.

School Years

The Smurthwaite family moved to Salt Lake from Wellsville in 1918 about the time the Armistice was signed ending WWI. Alfred had suffered tremendous financial losses when they lost the Smurthwaite Feed & Grain business. The family also made the move to be closer to doctors who could care for Charles's younger sister, Mildred. At the age of eleven she had fallen out of a tree in the yard and become paralyzed. In Salt Lake City a chiropractor would come to their home on Verner Avenue to give Mildred 'adjustments.'

Charles’ forming years were to be entrusted to the teachers of Hawthorne Elementary School, and the Salt Lake High School. Charles said he was never any good at arithmetic but he held his own in geography and other school subjects. He also enjoyed playing football. While in high school his early elocution training served him well. Charles favored singing and dramatics to history and science. He performed in such plays as The Lass of Libric Town and others, sometimes taking the lead part and sometimes that of the villain. In his later years Charles regretted not putting more effort into his schooling and grades.

Before receiving his driving license Charles drove his mother and sister Margaret down through Reno to California to meet Leland Heywood, to whom Margaret was engaged, as he finished Dental School.  He recalled, “The old car's first gear did not go low enough to ascend the steep mountain roads so I had to drive up them in reverse!”  Later on Charles purchased Grandpa Folsom's old "Rio" automobile, but the first new car he ever had was a light blue 1937 Studebaker that he bought off the floor.  

  Employment opportunities were many and varied for anyone willing to work hard.  As a young high school graduate that Charles traveled to California with his cousin Fawn Baxter to sell shoes for a while.  They experienced some success but soon became “disenchanted with the whole thing” and returned to Utah after just three months.  

It was while Charles was working in the shoe department at the Auerbach's Department Store that he first met Rhea Folsom. She was working there on Saturdays and attending the University of Utah. He felt she stood out from all the other girls with her refined manner and quick sense of humor. He managed to sell Rhea her first good pair of high heels. They dated throughout the spring and summer of 1927 attending movies at the Paramount, plays at the Salt Lake Theater, or visiting with family members. Special box seats cost Charles about $10.00 per person so most often they bought cheap seats on the highest tier where Rhea would cuddle up and they could smooch a little. He put down $2.60 on a wedding ring for Rhea and proposed to her while they were on an outing up Logan Canyon with friends. They were married December 28, 1927 in the Salt Lake Temple. Their reception was held at a friend's home on Yale Avenue. Rhea carried red roses in her bouquet. Alma Jacobsen was Charles's best man.

Married Life

The depression years were pretty tough. Anyone who made $18.00 a week was lucky. Charles continued selling shoes taking training as a "shoe fitter" from Dr. Shoals himself, when the shoe specialist came to town. Based on this training, Charles always maintained pride in his knowledge of shoes and shoe-fitting. According to Charles most people fit their shoes too short and too tight. He believed you wouldn't have sore feet if you wore good shoes that allowed your toes to stretch and wiggle.

Dorothy Mae Smurthwaite, Rhea and Charles’ first child, was born on August 3, 1928 at the LDS Hospital. She had come very early and was a tiny 'incubator' baby.

Charles was hired by the J.C. Penney Company to organize the shoe department in their new store in Great Falls, Montana, so the young family moved north. Charles was a good salesman. He didn't mind waiting on any person at all whether they were old or whatever, and they usually bought from him. While working in Great Falls he became the store's number one salesperson. He even received a commendation from the company placing Seventh Top Salesman in the entire nationwide J.C Penny chain. But even after this success he was not satisfied. He made the mistake of quitting J.C. Penney and went to work with a friend, Charles Merrill, selling mortuary stock in the Deseret Mortuary there in Great Falls. Soon a second child, Charles Jay Smurthwaite was born.

Charles Jay was born on February 11, 1930 at the Deaconess Hospital in Great Falls. His imminent arrival was unexpected and Charles had Rhea walk up the stairs to the Maternity Ward rather than wait for the slow elevator in the lobby. C.J. was a big healthy boy, and a welcome addition to the family.

Further Employment

Their return to Salt Lake City brought other challenges. Charles began working at the Campus Bootery while, at the same time becoming more involved in local politics. He was later employed in a variety of jobs working for the County, such as the assistant superintendent at the Salt Lake Hospital, Salt Lake Airport Manager, & Salt Lake County Purchasing Agent. An active Democrat, he worked for State leaders such as Governor Maw and Governor Blood. Early in the 1940's he ran for the State House of Representatives and got "clipped" by his strong Republican district. While working for Sheldon Brewster and Commissioner George Morgan, Charles managed several political campaigns for the Democrats.

When Truman was running for President, Charles set up convention meetings and dinners in the old Hotel Newhouse to help promote the campaign. He remained confident that Truman would win, even on election night when the entire country believed the victory would go to Governor Dewey. Truman prevailed. For several years Charles acted as Sergeant-at-Arms for both branches of the State Legislature. While working with Calvin Keddington in the County Clerk's office he especially enjoyed the assignment of performing marriages, stressing sober commitment and good humor. (He even signed his son Mike’s wedding license and later served as witness in the temple!)

Rhea Jean, their third child arrived in a hurry. It was on December 2, 1932 when Charles and Rhea were visiting mother Folsom at her house on Princeton Avenue when suddenly Rhea whet into hard labor. Dr. Shepherd, who lived just a few houses away, came on the run to deliver a darling brown haired baby girl in short order.

When the growing family moved to a twin house on Harvard Avenue their fourth child Elaine Folsom Smurthwaite was born after another short labor. This time a woman friend who lived nearby assisted Charles with the delivery at home. One would think that Rhea's children were easy. And they were. However, they proved to be very active and independent children. Rhea felt she was being cooperative and efficient when she gave birth to Michael Brent Smurthwaite on Sunday, March 23, 1941. Charles took her to the hospital early. At 5:00 a.m. she gave birth and Charles was back home in time to get the rest of children ready for church and attend to his Sunday School Superintendence duties.

Their bonus baby, and darling of the family, was a blue eyed, blond curly headed girl, Diane, born on February 13, 1943. She was to be a favored 'baby of the family' filling the role of friend and companion for both Rhea and Charles.

Mr. Democrat

Charles possessed a deep love for country, a strong desire for its welfare, and a determination to do his duty as a citizen of the state of Utah. Upon these precepts he molded his active political life.

Although he never held an elected public office, it was Charles who was called on to get things done. He wielded broad influence with public officials for several years. While Milt Willemen was in office, Charles identified a rising young attorney working for the Union Pacific Railroad whom everyone liked and who could get along with everybody, Republicans and Democrats alike. His name was Scott Matheson. Charles saw that Mr. Matheson was nominated as the Democratic Governor for Utah and he assisted actively with that campaign in 1982. Charles also served as President of the Sagebrush Democratic Club for 20 years.

Church Callings

Throughout his life Charles followed the example of his mother, Margaret, dressing in his best clothes and attending church. Charles would also adhere to his mother’s teaching who taught him that all other obligations would go well if you paid a true tithing. Charles was a diligent church worker never turning a calling, trying his utmost to fulfill each job with enthusiasm. Indeed he put the "R" in 'Responsibility'. Whether he was leading the singing, serving ward dinners, serving as Superintendent of the MIA and Sunday School, or decorating for ward functions it was the same. A friend, Guy Duffin, recalled the time when the Bishop of Liberty Ward announced a fund raising drive in Priesthood meeting. It was Charles who immediately stood up holding a $20.00 bill asking the rest, "Who else will join me in donating for the building?" Although he was not an easy speech giver, Charles loved to lead the singing in groups encouraging everyone to sing out. He also enjoyed membership in the Sons of Utah Pioneers serving as President of the East Millcreek Chapter and becoming a life member of that organization.

The Trip to Europe with the Tabernacle Choir

Charles accompanied Rhea on the Tabernacle Choir's European Tour in 1955. They invited Edna, Rhea's sister, and her husband, Had, to join the tour. The Choir traveled extensively through England, dedicating the London Temple and visiting historic places along the way. Charles later said of the impact of the Choir’s concerts: “They would turn the hall on fire!”

In Sweden Rhea became friends with their landlady and was convinced the woman was a "Golden Contact." They went throughout Europe visiting friends, seeing museums, going to ‘The Louve’ in France, or going to Switzerland, which was beautiful. Rhea and Edna wanted to extend their trip visiting Rome, Italy, however Charles and Had needed to return to their homes and jobs. After spending seven more days touring additional museums and churches, Rhea and Edna flew home together, stopping in New York.

They continued on their flight heading towards Salt Lake City when their United Airlines Flight veered off course toward Medicine Bow Peak in Wyoming where it crashed. All aboard were killed. It was the worst airplane accident in the history of American aviation up to that time. Charles and the family awaited the news at the airport and crowded into the waiting room when the crash was announced. The family was indeed devastated. Children and grandchildren who had grown independent on their own suddenly came together to share their grief in this tragedy. Charles and Had were faced with the sad task of informing mother Folsom that she had lost two lovely daughters. It was necessary for the friends and family to carry on…which they did.

Charles was acquainted with Thelma Vest who an active worker in the Democratic Party. He felt lonely and needed companionship. He courted Thelma, driving down to her home in Payson often, taking her and her parents and sister to dinner or out for a ride. Thelma had dark brown hair and fine expressive eyes. She was a dynamic speaker and very talented. No wonder she impressed Charles.

After they were married on, October 5, 1958, she remained living in Payson fulfilling her position as County Recorder for Utah County. The couple would take turns commuting on weekends to be with each other. They were married for thirty-four years remaining active and devoted to each other and their families. The home where they lived for many years at 2148 East and 1300 South was a show place boasting well groomed lawns and flowers all around. When it became necessary to sell their beloved home, Charles and Thelma moved to The Robbin's Retirement Center down in Payson. There Charles no longer had grass to cut, yet he worked hard caring for Thelma and assisting the neighbors acting as helper and chauffeur. Being a friend to all was his life long habit. Thelma died at age 92 on December 11, 1997. “I remember her every day” he would later say.

For the next two years Charles lived in a ground level apartment at the Retirement Village in West Valley City. Later he moved to the Brickyard Retirement home in Salt Lake where he was closer to Rhea Jean and other family members. Wherever he went he continued to favor friends with Sweet's Chocolate Orange Sticks or Charley’s Chews chocolate covered taffy. Such treats brought a smile into everyone's life.

After suffering a serious fall Charles was moved into his son CJay’s home where he received hands-on help. It was only six weeks after his fall that Charles Smurthwaite quietly passed away on October 25, 2002. He was ninety-eight years old.

Obituary Charles Brown Smurthwaite died peacefully of natural causes October 25, 2002 at the age of 98.

Charles was born Dec. 24, 1903 in Wellsville, UT to Alfred and Margaret Brown Smurthwaite. Charles married Rhea Folsom Dec. 28. 1927 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. She died in an airplane crash with other members of the Tabernacle Choir in 1955. He married Thelma Vest, Payson, UT in 1957. He is preceded in death by Rhea, Thelma, a daughter, Elaine (Allan) Jorgensen, beloved parents; brothers and sisters.

Charles had a passion for people, which enabled him to become an active community leader. Charlie was known as “Mr. Democrat” for his love and loyalty to the service of that party. He always reminded everyone to vote Democrat. He was president of the Sagebrush Club for more than 20 years and a lifetime member o the Sons of the Utah Pioneers.

As a active member of the LDS Church he filled many callings throughout the years. “Grandpa Smurth” will always by remembered by his grandchildren for always sharing his “Cracker Jacks” and trinkets. His quiet yet powerful example will long be remembered by those who were privileged to know him.

Charles is survived by two sons and three daughters. Charles Jay (Pat) Smurthwaite, Michael Brent (Heather) Smurthwaite, Dorothy Mae (Armand) Matern, Rhea Jean (Donald) Foulger, Diane (Max) Wheeler.

Services will be Wed. Oct 30., 2002 11 a.m. Russon Brothers Mortuary, 255 S. 200 East SLC. Friends may call Tues. 7-8 p.m. and Wed. 9:45- 10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment, Sunset Lawn Cemetery. Online guest book at www. Russon Mortuary.com.

Historical life experiences as remembered and told by Charles B. Smurthwaite to his two sons, Charles Jay and Michael Brent April 19th, 1999, Salt Lake City, Utah. Born in Wellsville, Utah, December 24th, 1903 in the upper bedroom of the wood frame home to Margaret Ellen Brown Smurthwaite and Alfred Smurthwaite, a grain broker/merchant. So darlin' of a boy was Charles that his mother allowed his hair to go uncut and formed curls so pretty they were the envy of every girl until the age of four. •Charlie loved to play in the yard, splash in the irrigation canal that passed the property, climb the tree in the front yard, and eat candy from the Wellsville Candy Shoppe. He loved horses, tolerated school, enjoyed his large family with sisters so musical they formed quartet and were much in demand for singing at local events. (Mary, so musical she learned to play piano by intently listening to it for hours, would later sing in the Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City.) •November 11, 1918, Charles, then 14, well remembers that is was Armistice Day, the end of World War I, when the family moved to Salt Lake City, a move that would see the talented folk from Wellsville bloom and grow to fluorescence. Yet, as they say, "you can take the boy out of the country but not the country out of the boy", ... Charles would ever maintain a love and appreciation for the genuine, simple folks of small towns so reminiscent of his youth. Alfred and Margaret moved the family to a home at 1389 Stratford Ave near the Forest Dale Elementary School and the Irving Jr. High. •In 1921, at age 17, for summer work, Charlie commonly went to work in Howell, Uncle Charles Gunnell's place, where he was a farmhand. He would drive wagons pulled with from eight to 21 horses during the wheat harvest. He would sew closed the lOO pound wheat sacks and deliver them to grain and feed stores in Lampo for resale. For two summers, after returning from Uncle Charlie Gunnel's farm, Charlie worked for a Silver mine in Big Cottonwood canyon, near Brighton. He would drill holes and his partner would place dynamite. After the blast, he would help clear away the rock. He also did some store clerk jobs. • In 1922 (or so) Charlie got a job at Auerbach's Department Store at third South and State Street in Salt Lake, a store he would later frequent with his children to buy shoes. (After Mike's mission, Charlie took Mike to buy a new suit at Auerbachs.) •In 1924, with his cousins Fawn and Clain Baxter, Charlie traveled to San Francisco and worked at "The Emporium,” a large store even in that day. It was here his Cousin Fawn taught him how to sell shoes, about how different shaped feet need to be fitted properly, etc. Learning this skill would later enable Charles to become the number one shoe salesman in the United States, for two different years, for the J.C. Penny Co. One day at the Emporium, a successful Jewish merchant from Marysville named Schnieder came to the Emporium and closely observed all the workers. After a while he came to Charles and said, "Of all the workers, I choose you, the energetic one." He immediately offered him a job at double his salary, and Charlie moved to Marysville. Charlie worked well, and Mr. Schnieder paid well, but after four months, Charlie got homesick. He told his friend, "Don't tell Mr. Schnieder where I've gone." And he lit out by train to Salt Lake. • It was 1926, in the midst of the "roaring 20's" that Charlie started working for J.C. Penny & Co in the shoe department. At this time, Charles also attended the University of Utah for one quarter and pledged with the Sigma Pi Fraternity. About this time he remembers driving a Ford Coupe for transportation. He also took a course in shoes from the Dr. Scholl's shoe company. With friends, Charles had rented an apartment on Garfield Avenue and First East. •For a second job, he sold shoes for ZCMI and it was there he eye caught view of the lovely ankle of one Rhea Folsom, daughter of the school man, Hugh Broadbent Folsom and Josephine Whitaker Folsom. "I sold her her first pair of shoes,” he remembers, “and they were good shoes too." With her irrepressible family, Rhea lived at the time at a home on 9th South and 9th East. Summers she worked picking fruit in Centerville. Rhea remembers that her old fashioned father insisted that boys visiting his daughters come to the door as gentlemen. "Don't drive up, honk and whistle for my daughter! Come to the door!" Noting the Beauty of the fruits, Charles picked the best. After a six-month acquaintance, Charles and Rhea were married on December 27th, 1927. •During the depression '30's, the days of the WP A and CCC's, Charlie worked at the capital in the supply department from 1934 to '41. He was doing so well that in 1937 he walked into a Chevrolet dealership and bought the display model, paying cash for the down payment. " I was doing well at that time." In 1939; he drove a government-supplied car, the same year the family moved into the Fifth East house, across from Liberty Park. •Names of prominent Utahns he knew and campaigned for fell freely from his lips as he recalled these days: George Morgan, Commissioner, also LC Romney, Bill Larson, Mayor Earl J. Glade, Sheldon Brewster, Virgil Smith, Al Laxman. Sheldon Brewster was a stake president and speaker of the house. Virgil Smith, stake president, was also a Denver Street neighbor. Charlie, an active party loyalist, was Chairman of the Democratic Sagebrush Club for 12 years, 1958 to 1970. He was later Chief Purchasing Agent for the Salt Lake County, the Sergeant of Arms for the Utah Legislature, Office manager for the Secretary of State, Bill Miller. •Always active in political campaigns, Charlie said he had been a supporter and a key campaigner for a series of Utah governors, Governor Blood in the '30's, Governor Herbert Maw in the 40's, J. Bracken Lee in the 50's and of course Cal Rampton in the 50's and 60's. In 1948 when U.S. President Harry Truman visited Salt Lake, Charlie was honored with the job of being the driver of his touring car. He always liked Harry Truman and always displayed a signed picture of President Truman in his home. In 1976, Charlie was recognized for his 42 years of service to Salt Lake City and County, as well as the State of Utah •In the church, besides always being a faithful tithe payer, he served as Superintendent of the Sunday School, a leader in the MIA in the '30s, and worked on the Liberty Stake High Council in the 1940's. In this latter capacity, he was the chief fundraising chairman of the Liberty-Wells Stake Center. Mike remembers his chairmanship of the carnival on the ground whereon the bi-stake center was later built. His Bishop, Dr. Kesler, was also his chiropractor. He remembers also Bishops Nash and Clarence H. Taylor. •He usually served as chairman of stake events such as the Gold and Green Ball, dinners, and parties. “I was always a doer. If there were any activities or parties I always had charge of it.” •In 1952 the family moved from the Denver Street house to the 1621 Emerson Avenue house and in 1956 to the 2148 East 13th South house. •Favorites: Favorite music? “I always liked the Lawrence Welk type songs.” Always and forever, Charlie loved to lead the music whether for the Sons of the Utah Pioneers meetings, ward gatherings, or spontaneously at weddings! Poetry? Longfellow. Advice? He spoke of the need to "keep out of debt.” Of favorite movie stars he said he liked the old time movies and "old time stars like John Wayne, Cary Grant, the old timers." He then added, “I never went out much. But I did like events with raffles, and often held winning tickets!”

•Famous Events? “Where were you on December 7, 1941, the day “that would live in infamy?" Charlie said that on that day he drove the family to Centerville to see Ellis, Florence, Bob, Janet and Joyce, and the other kids. “How about November 22, 1963, the day Kennedy was shot?” He was working at the Airbase Village and heard the news on the radio. “How did he feel about the Vietnam War?” “I have no opinion. It didn't bother me.” •A Tribute by his son, Michael. “In passing, let me say that I was ever proud to be the son of Charlie Smurthwaite. Wherever I went and was introduced to people anywhere in Utah they frequently said, "Are you any relation of Charlie Smurthwaite?" After I nodded “yes, he’s my dad,” they would invariably render genuine praise and affection and tell me what a great man my dad was. I would smile knowingly. I believed I was blessed and lucky to be Charlie’s son. For years, I sensed that because of my core desire to be different than most people but still respected, I believed that in the pre-mortal life I allied myself with Charlie because I wanted so deeply to be like him. All my life I remember a continual desire to be like my Dad. I felt that I'd be content to be as good as he was while at the same time knowing I'd never be as successful nor as well-liked as Charlie Smurthwaite. I yet maintain the core belief that I am honored just to be associated with him, and doubly honored to bear his name. He taught us kids to honor and remember your name. I look forward to our future reunion. My deepest desire is to honor and follow Jesus Christ and in so doing feel that I will be following also in the footsteps of my noble father, Charlie B. Smurthwaite.