Roy Smith Jr.

Roy Lory Smith Jr. (November 15, 1933 – August 11, 2021) Roy Lory Smith Jr. was born to Roy Lory Smith Sr. and Ruth Alberta Smith on November 15, 1933. He grew up in Greeley, Colorado. After graduating from Greeley High School in 1951, Roy earned a BS in law at Denver University. He then obtained a Masters of Divinity from Drake University and worked on a PhD at Vanderbilt. Roy married his high school sweetheart, Grace May Knight on August 29, 1954. From 1955 to 1960, he served as a pastor in several Disciple of Christ churches in Iowa and Kentucky. Roy and Grace were blessed with two daughters during that time: Lorraine Ann (AKA Lory) and Karen Sue. In 1961, Roy and family moved back to Greeley, Colorado. Their son, Philip Eugene was born. From 1961 to 1978, Roy worked as accountant and office manager for Ted Nieters Motor Company and eventually, Roy became part-owner of the Ford/Toyota car dealership. Roy returned to school in 1978 (at the age of 45) after the car dealership was sold. He attended the University of Northern Colorado. There he obtained a Doctor of Education degree in Business. Roy served as a lecturer at UNC and taught business classes at AIMS Community College in Greeley for one year. He then became a professor of business at Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas for five years, followed by five years at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas. Roy retired in 1991. He moved to Sun City, Arizona with his wife Grace in 1992. At Sun City Christian Church he was a leader of the Bible Forum for 25 years. Roy also served as an elder and a choir member. Grace preceded Roy in death on April 23, 2019. On October 15, 2019 Roy married Donna Shubin. Both Roy and Donna attended the Sun City Christian Church and sang in the choir. They enjoyed entertaining others in their home with a card game called hand, foot and knee. During his life, Roy enjoyed staying active playing tennis and table tennis. He had a passion for Bible teaching and translation from the original Greek and Hebrew. Roy lost weight and strength recently and was hospitalized with pneumonia. He died at his home in Sun City on August 11, 2021. Roy is preceded in death by his first wife, Grace, his parents and older sister, Vera. Roy’s surviving family includes his second wife, Donna, his younger brother, Bruce, his three children, Lory (Dennis McDonald), Karen (Julius Petty) and Philip (Cindy) Smith, and his seven grandchildren: Alison & Bonnie McDonald, Jedidiah (Catherine) Larson, Rachel (Sean) Donovan, Terry (Katie) Smith, Taylor (Trista) Smith and Abby Smith. In addition, Roy was blessed with eight great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Sun City, Arizona.