Jerry D. Smith

Jerry Dean Smith, age 66, of Des Moines, IA went home to be with the Lord July 10, 2016.

A Celebration of Life will be August 13, 2016 at the St. John’s Lutheran Church, 600 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA at 1:00 followed by a lunch. Jerry will be interred at the Oberlin Cemetery in Oberlin, KS, with his parents and near other family that has gone before him.

Jerry was born on October 11th, 1949, in Hillsboro, Oregon. He was the third child of the late Dean Coulter Smith and Gertrude Dolores (Woodside) Smith. He lived his early years in Forest Grove, OR with his siblings Muriel, Harold, and Kevin. He later moved to Salinas, CA. Jerry moved back to Oregon for a few years where he got to experience independent living in his own apartment. He later moved to Ohio to live in a basement apartment prepared for him by his sister, Muriel and her family. When Muriel and her husband moved to Des Moines, IA, Jerry went with them. He lived in his own apartment there. Muriel and her husband retired in Arkansas and Jerry decided to stay in Des Moines. Laura Cangey Symmonds volunteered to be Jerry’s co-guardian with Muriel so Jerry could continue to live as he wished, independently, in his own apartment, in Des Moines.

Throughout Jerry’s early years, his mother, Delores, spent her adult life working to establish programs for the handicapped and retarded children, in California and Oregon, so that Jerry could participate and live a productive rewarding life. This upbringing gave Jerry the self-worth and the confidence to live independently and hold many paid and volunteer jobs. In Jerry’s younger years you could see him riding his adult three wheeled bike all around town. He put the miles on that bike. Jerry could maneuver that bike so well, despite his handicap, while others without disabilities, struggled to ride and steer this simple bike. Jerry loved to stay active and yet loved to watch his programs on TV. Jerry loved his music, his entire lifetime. He loved to reminisce. He had a playful nature and loved his inside jokes and phrases with friends and family. Jerry’s look on life was always positive and he was a light in others’ lives. In Des Moines, Jerry loved going to Drake Women’s Basketball games, volunteering at Blank Park Zoo, working with his HOPE staff and hanging out with his neighbors at Southview Senior Apartments. Jerry was very fortunate to be able to continue to live in his own apartment with the help of friends, the HOPE agency, Laura, Easter Seals, his church family, and many caregivers over the years.

Jerry fell in love with his girlfriend Deb Arguello and they committed their love to each other in a ceremony in 1998. They later parted.

Jerry attended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of Ankeny, IA, and it was there where he was baptized on July 20th, 1993. Jerry spent many holidays with church friends.

Despite his handicaps, Jerry lived a full life. He maintained his great sense of humor while dealing with continued difficulties and pain. Jerry loved his TV shows and had a remarkable memory of the past. His wonderful laugh was enjoyed by many.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Dolores Smith, his sister, Muriel Jones, his two brothers, Harold Smith and Kevin Smith. He is survived by his nieces, Sherri Egeland, Deenna Baer, Syndee Van Gelder, Vanessa Lockard, nephews, Marc Jones, Jacob Smith, Jordon Smith, sisters-in-law, Athena Smith and Marjorie Smith, aunts Beth Thompson, Denise Kenney, and many cousins who all loved him and will miss him dearly.

He will be deeply missed by his extended family and many friends, Drake women’s basketball family, his HOPE family, his Blank Park Zoo family, his church family, and his many neighbors from Ankeny to Des Moines.

Many thanks to all those who have shared a part of Jerry’s life through the years and assisted him in living a full life.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the following in Jerry’s memory.
HOPE, 3850 Merle Hay Rd., Suite #606 Des Moines, IA 50310
Easter Seals of Iowa, 401 N.E. 66th Ave. Des Moines, IA 50313
Jerry’s family to help with funeral expenses to Sherri Egeland, 4930 Via Cupertino, Camarillo, CA 93012
Any Cerebral Palsy program or a charity of your choice.

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