Loran Dean "Tate" Smith

Loran D. “Tate” Smith

The USU Aggies lost one of their most devoted fans. Loran “Tate” Smith passed away Saturday January 5th in Logan surrounded by his family after complications from liver cancer.
He was born in Lewiston to Loran H. and Beneta Talbot Smith, the third of three sons. He proudly graduated from North Cache High School where he was an award winning athlete in football, basketball and track. He gained an athletic scholarship to Snow College and later attended Utah State University. Tate served in the Australia-Sydney Mission, an experience that he treasured and would remain important to him the rest of his life. He later worked for Thiokol Corporation for 35 years, 25 of those years in management for the Space Shuttle program. Shortly after he started at Thiokol, Tate married Betty Martin and the marriage was later solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple.
Dad remained an avid sports enthusiast, especially for the Aggies. He almost always had on an Aggie cap, knew their schedule and listened to or attended the games. He checked out any cable station that had a football or basketball game on. He also had a reverence for Logan Canyon, and knew the trails and peaks as well as anyone in the valley. He enjoyed hunting, especially with his close friends.
Dad is survived by a saddened and loving family. Survivors include his wife Betty of Logan, and children Tracey of Farmington, Steven of Logan, Shalayne of Logan, son-in-law Edward Needham, brother-in-law John B. Martin, seven nieces, two nephews, and many close friends and hunting buddies. He was preceded in death by his parents of Lewiston, his in-laws Ezra and Louise Martin, his brothers Delmar Smith and Farrell Smith, sisters-in-law Edna Smith and Aleen Smith, and one niece. The Family has been heartbroken by Dad’s quick passing, but we have been blessed by the time we had with him. We would like to thank the kindness shown the family at St. George’s Dixie Regional Medical Center as well as Intermountain Home, Health and Hospice. A special thanks also to the thoughtfulness and devotion shown by family members and friends.
Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday January 10, 2013 in the Lundstrom Park 2nd Ward Chapel, 1260 North 1600 East in Logan. A viewing will be held on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center St. in Logan, and prior to the services on Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the Preston, Idaho Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net .