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George Price Smith Jr. was born to George Price Smith and Annie Mae Rush Smith on April 28, 1924, in No Agua, New Mexico. When Annie told Price it was time for the baby, he rode horseback 7 miles to Tres Piedras to get her Mother. Grandmother Rush got to NoAgua by railroad handcart. There was a heavy spring thaw and water was running over the railroad track in several places. Needless to say they got to the ranch in time to deliver a tiny baby boy, who was soon nicknamed Sonny. Sonny and his brother were a year apart in age and were inseparable, until Oris died at age four from polio. Years later his young brother Kenny described an imaginary friend with Oris’ features and personality. Sonny followed his Mom and Dad on horseback from the time he could set a saddle until their passing. When he was five years old his Grandfather Nephi taught him how to ford a river on horseback. His golden memories were time spent with his grandfather in the mountains on the Grant taking care of cattle. He attended elementary school in Skarda, No Agua, and Tres Piedras. He went to Ojo and Sanford as a teenager. He said his Grandmother Smith taught him how to make cottage cheese when he lived with her in Sanford. He enjoyed all outdoor activities, as well as leather crafting, wood working, oil painting and playing guitar. He enjoyed flying in planes and helicopters. He had a lifelong dream of hiking to the top of Mt. Blanca.

George married Lynneta Rae Schofield in Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 6, 1947. They worked as caretakers on the Baxter Ranch the first year they were married. They combined their brands and raised Hereford cattle. He had to doctor all the livestock and cared for them like children. The animals knew he was their caretaker. He could lead a herd of cattle to new grazing and cut an animal from a herd with no stress to the animals. Caring for livestock was the joy of his life. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service planting wheat grass when Carl was born. He was working for F.E. Shundler Perlite Corporation when Georgia and Kay were born. He worked with the Soil Conservation Service in the 60’s participating in the Great Plains Conservation Program. He was the first private landowner in New Mexico to install a rain trap to save range water. He retired from Johns Manville in 1982, but he never retired from the ranch.
He continued ranching well into his 90’s.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Oris, his wife Lynn and his son Carl.

He is survived by his daughters, Georgia (Gene) Kuykendall of Tres Piedras, and Debora Kay (Steve) Smith of Bountiful. Granddaughter: Gina Kay (Robbie) Jackson, of American Fork, Utah. Grandsons: Gaven (Candice) Kuykendall, No Agua New Mexico, Raymond (Lori) Smith, of Bountiful, Ryan (Brandi) Smith of Grand Junction, Clinton (Alisha) Smith, Salida, and Cole Smith of Bountiful. Great-Grandchildren: Brett, Bridget, Jason, Nate, Alec and Erin Jackson. Kayla and Dillon Carter. Gideon, Cecily, Haven, Brigham and Levi Kuykendall, Chance, Logan, Dakota, Ethan, Olivia, Emma, and Lane Smith, His brother Ken (Carole) Smith of Hartsel, Colorado and Sister-in-law Katherine Schofield of No Agua, New Mexico.

In lieu of flowers we want to find cures and save children so please make a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. www.stjude.org PH# 800-239-3360 or mail the donation to Rogers Family Mortuary P.O. Box 1549, Alamosa, Colorado 81101

A funeral will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in La Jara, Colorado at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, February 27, 2016 with burial to immediately follow in the Manassa Cemetery.

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