Laura Gittins Smith

Laura Gittins Smith, age 54, of North Logan, passed from this life on May 2, 2018 after a brutal, courageous battle with cancer - mantle cell lymphoma.
Siblings from around the world gathered to be with her for the few days following her final medical treatments.
Laura was the seventh child born to Larry Lenard and Jeanine (Olson) Gittins on March 16, 1964, in Logan, Cache County, Utah. She was the baby of the family for 14 years. Then her sister Karin, and three years later, sister Jeanne completed the family.
The family moved to Ogden, so Laura attended Bonneville Elementary for Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Roosevelt Elementary was where she attended 4th through 6th grade, after moving to Washington Terrace. Friends at T.H. Bell Junior High enjoyed her cornet skills in the Jazz Band and Minuteman Band under the direction of Lew May, an inspiring music teacher for many of the Gittins siblings. Her talents shined even brighter at Bonneville High School, singing in the Tapestry choral group, and in the Laker Choir. She played trumpet in the Marching Band and played the Von Trapp child Marta, in the high school’s production of the Sound of Music, with her natural beauty, fine voice and petite size.
Summer work included working in the cafeteria at St. Benedicts Hospital near Washington Terrace. Later she rode the bus to Lagoon all Summer, to perform in the Lagoon Show Band with her brother Tracy. She attended Ricks College for two years, retaining her group of roomies as life-long friends. Then she enrolled in Beau LaReine Beauty College in Logan, where she received her degree in Cosmetology. During that time, she met her sweetheart, Mark John Smith, two doors away from her Grandparents home, Rodney and Velda Anderson, where she lived while in Cosmetology school. Laura and Mark were sealed February, 1985 in the Logan, UT LDS temple. Her marriage of 33 years was filled with the joy of family life, especially when Jacob Mark Smith and Julia Laura Smith (Heslop) were born. Not only was she a nurturer of the highest order to her husband and children, all of her nieces and nephews felt the same love, as one of her own. Beautiful loving kindness was her manner with others. As Grandmother to Marty Smith, son of Jacob and Terrah (Harrison) Smith, she loved seeing him progress as a growing child, and caring for him in her home. Observing him filled her with joy. She enjoyed camping, hiking, Jet Skiing, water skiing, and snow skiing. She was a motorcyclist who taught her children that fun as well. As a career beautician, her husband constructed a private salon space in each of their homes for her to operate “The Headquarters Salon”. Countless customers were favored by her therapeutic listening, and improvement to their looks through the years. She loved trying out new foods, and recipes for her family’s health. She was adept at seeing the good in others, and raising their self-esteem. Laura had your back, in every worthy pursuit.
The Smith family expresses their immense gratitude for the love and support of so many friends, neighbors, and relatives near and far, during the difficult 16 months of hope and sorrow since the cancer treatments began. When discovered in January 2017, it was already a Stage 4 condition.
Laura was preceded in death by the first three children born to her parents, a the twins Ronald and Roland, and a sister Barbara, who died in infancy. Laura is survived by her parents Larry Lenard Gittins (Kay), Jeanine Olson Gittins Erickson (Glen), siblings Larry Lane Gittins (Shelley), DeAnn Gittins Lichfield (Aaron), Tracy Alan Gittins (María Blanca), Karin Gittins Reed (Kris), and Jeanne Gittins Murray (Chris), husband Mark John Smith; son, Jacob Mark Smith (Terrah), and daughter Julia Laura Smith Heslop (Casey), and her grandson Marty Smith, and the many nieces and nephews who all loved Aunt Laura. In lieu of flowers, Laura requested that donations be made to assist in Jacob Smith’s Lyme disease battle, which he continues to fight. https://www.youcaring.com/jacobandterrahharrisonsmith-1177053
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 4, 2018, beginning with a video tribute at 11:00am and the funeral service at 12:00 noon. Services will be held in the Green Canyon LDS Stake Center at 1850 N. 400 E. North Logan, Utah. Burial will follow at the North Logan Cemetery.