Donna Marie McArthur Smith

 June 21, 1929 – Nov. 4, 2016

Donna Marie McArthur Smith, 87, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, died peacefully at her home with her family by her side in Lovell on Nov. 4, 2016. Donna was born to Farnham McArthur and Elma Marie Johnson on June 21, 1929, in Lovell.[caption id="attachment_11831" align="alignright" width="206"] Donna Marie McArthur Smith[/caption]Donna grew up in Lovell and attended Lovell High School. While attending, she was involved with FHA, played the flute with the band and was a soprano in the Glee Club.  Donna was an honor society president and was valedictorian of her graduating class of 1947.  She attended the University of Wyoming and received her bachelor’s degree in home economics in 1951. While attending the university, Donna was on the Mortar Board, PHI Upsilon Omicron, A.W.S. (Associated Women Students) and was house president for Knight Hall. She was president of Beta Omega/Lambda Delta Sigma, and was involved in other clubs and programs.With a desire to serve an LDS Church mission, Donna received her call to the Texas-Louisiana Mission, April 24, 1951.Upon returning from an honorably served mission, Donna accepted an employment opportunity in Salt Lake City at Mountain Bell Telephone Company, Utah as a service representative. While living in Salt Lake City she loved participating and performing with the SacraDulce Choir and in dance competitions, which were her first loves.As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she had various auxiliary callings that included Beehive leader, choir director, stake Sunday school board member, Gospel doctrine teacher, seminary teacher, Relief Society teacher, Primary chorister and visiting teacher.Donna met the love of her life, Dean Thomas Smith of Cowley, in Salt Lake City, even though they grew up a few miles from one another in Cowley and Lovell. They dated in Provo, where she worked at Brigham Young University and was a resident assistant. They were sealed for eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple on Aug. 6, 1957. Through this union, they were blessed with six children, Carol Ann, Samuel McArthur, Janet, Eric McArthur, Ned McArthur and Linda.Dean and Donna raised their young family while in Provo, Roosevelt and Brigham City, Utah, until they both accepted teaching positions for the Church Education System in Mapusaga, American Samoa, for three years. They returned to live in Lovell and Cowley for three years, continuing as teachers in the Lovell and Cowley school districts before moving to South Jordan, Utah, where they raised their children. Dean and Donna lived in a variety of towns in Salt Lake City and Utah counties.Donna moved back to her hometown of Lovell after the death of her husband in 1993. She spent many happy and productive years living in Lovell and was active in DUP (Daughters of Utah Pioneers), church callings and American Mothers. She enjoyed being a grandmother and great-grandmother and friend.Preceding her in death was her husband, Dean Thomas Smith, daughter Linda Smith and granddaughter Talisa Smith.She is survived by two daughters, Carol Smith (Dave) Castle of Brooklyn, N.Y., Janet Smith (Del) Bassett of Houston, Texas, and three sons, Dr. Samuel McArthur Smith (Alison Moore) of Lindon, Utah, Eric McArthur Smith (Chadell Rubis) of Lovell and Ned McArthur (KJ) Smith of Beaverton, Ore. She has 25 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren and counting.Donna’s funeral services will be held on Monday, Nov. 14, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lovell. The viewing will be at 10 a.m. and funeral services at 11 a.m.  Donna will be laid to rest next to her sweetheart, Dean, in the Cowley Cemetery – together again at last.