Longtime Fox Creek resident George Carlyle “Smitty” Smith, 87, died January 27, 2016 at his home in Fox Creek.

Carlyle was born to George Essex Smith, Jr. and Cella King on February 6, 1928 in Manassa, Colorado. He married Barbara Bertha Hicks on December 3, 1946 in Manassa, Colorado and their marriage was sealed for all time and eternity in the Mesa, Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on May 10, 1968. Barbara preceded him in death on January 1, 2010 and they enjoyed more than 64 years together.

Carlyle’s working career began at the laundromat in Alamosa. He then went on to drive the mail from Pueblo to Alamosa for the United States Postal Service, then worked for Johns Manville at the Perlite Mine near Antonito. Following his time there, he worked for the Colorado Department of Transportation then he and his wife Barbara owned and operated the Conejos Canyon Inn for many years, where he was “The Cook”. To this day, he kept most of his cooking recipes a secret. He then began truck driving and loved doing this the most, travelling all over the countryside. As a member of the Fox Creek Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he held many different callings and positions including Branch President.

In his younger years, Carlyle enjoyed horse roping. He would occasionally hunt and enjoyed time in the outdoors. He also liked feeding and caring for his cows. Carlyle was a jack of all trades and did many things for others, especially the widows in the area that needed help with maintenance or anything that he could fix. He was always repairing something and rarely required any help. In his later years he enjoyed watching sports and bull riding on television.

He is survived by his children Marilyn (Freddy, Jr.) Winters of Romeo, Pamela (Tom) Stewart of Fox Creek and Tammy (Wayne “Butch”, Jr.) Crowther of Sanford; his brothers Jerry K. Smith of Mesa, Arizona and Curtis (Genevieve) Smith of Manassa; his grandchildren Tanna (Charlie) Shawcroft, Brian (Lori) Winters, Desiree Peterson, William Stewart, Wayne (Natalie) Crowther, Ashley (Scott) Frost and Mandy (Bob) Cook, 19 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

Carlyle is preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his sister-in-law Monta Smith.

A Visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Friday, January 29th at the Rogers Family Mortuary in Manassa and from 9:00-9:45 a.m. Saturday, January 30, 2016 at the Fox Creek Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A Funeral Service will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 30, 2016 at the Fox Creek Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Interment will follow services in the Fox Creek Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Fox Creek Branch Missionary Fund in his memory.

Provide comfort for the family by planting a tree in memory of George Carlyle "Smitty" Smith, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.