Edward D. Smith

Edward D. Smith
(October 14, 1937 - December 21, 2025)

Edward D. Smith, a sixty-plus year resident of Nevada, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home on December 21, 2025, at the age of eighty-eight. Ed is survived by his wife of more than 25 years, Shauna Hadley Smith, and children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as noted below. Born on October 14, 1937, in Borger, Texas, the only child of Edward Wilson Smith and Bertha Irene Duren Smith, Ed's family moved to the Las Vegas Valley in 1950. He graduated in 1955 from Basic High School, where he played football and became life-long friends with one of his teammates, Harry Reid.

At Basic High School Ed met and dated Maurine Jackson. They were married July 21, 1956, in the St. George Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and were the parents of three children: Gregory J. Smith (Yvette) of Henderson, Nevada, Melanie S. Larkin (Wayne) of Las Vegas, Nevada and Brandon D. Smith (Megan) of Las Vegas, Nevada. He is also survived by stepchildren Darin A. Hadley (Hannah) of Logandale, Nevada, Celeste Hadley Ashment (deceased Jimmy) of Ogden, Utah, Jamie Hadley Evans of Salt Lake City, Utah and Shayne T. Hadley ("Ali") of Las Vegas, Nevada

Following graduation from high school, Ed joined the Army and was assigned for Russian language training, serving in Alaska monitoring Russian language radio broadcasts. On completing his service in the Army, Ed and Maurine moved to Southern California in the late 1950s. Ed started work in the life insurance industry, finding a knack for selling insurance and related financial products. Ed progressed quickly in this profession, achieved the status of a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), working in Los Angeles for the Hansch Financial Group.

It was at the Hansch Group that Ed met Berne H. Evans, III, and Edmond G. Thompson. With Berne as the driving business force, and Ed Thompson and Ed raising investment funds, the three started what is now known as Sun Pacific Farming with the initial purchase of 72 acres of navel oranges in 1969. A fourth partner joined them in 1978, Robert W. Reniers, Jr. Over the last fifty-plus years these four "founding partners" built Sun Pacific Farming into one of the largest and most successful agri-businesses in California, farming tens of thousands of acres of navel oranges, mandarins ("Cuties Clementines"), kiwis, table grapes, lemons and other crops.

In the late 1960's and early 1970's Ed transplanted his financial planning business from California to Las Vegas, becoming the general agent for the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, calling his business the Financial Advisory Clinic. Ed continued this financial planning business for a number of years into the 1980s. He found additional business interests in wedding chapels, and formed Smith-Christensen Enterprises with Vern J. Christensen and Vern's family. This involved them in real estate investments, jewelry stores, metal recycling businesses, a towing company and a waste disposal business. Vern and Ed and their families subsequently became partners with Bob and Jeanette Friedman in the recycling businesses. And in 2012 Ed also became partners with two of his grandsons and others, including Todd and Justin Stewart, in a KFC fast food franchise business. 

Ed and Maurine had a loving and tender relationship and raised together a wonderful family. Maurine's passing in 1999 left Ed adrift. Within a year, however, Ed fortunately was able successfully to court Shauna Hadley and the two were married on September 21, 2000.

Ed gave liberally to many causes and charities, among which was the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Ed donated the Maurine Jackson Smith Memorial Organ to UNLV and made significant donations to the UNLV School of Nursing. UNLV recently granted Ed an honorary degree as a Doctor of Humanities. He also donated to BYU-Hawaii where Ed funded, among other things, scholarships for students from the Pacific Islands, the Philippines and Mongolia. Ed was also involved with the Boy Scouts and was awarded the "Silver Beaver" status. 

Finally, Ed's life was profoundly shaped by his conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). Ed served in many callings, including Bishop, counselor in Bishoprics and Stake Presidencies. Ed also served as a temple worker and sealer in the Las Vegas LDS Temple. Ed also served as the LDS Mission President of both the Portland, Oregon mission (with Maurine) and the Atlanta, Georgia North Mission (with Shauna).

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026 starting at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) at the LDS Stake Center in Las Vegas, NV. Interment will take place with Military Honors by the American Legion and Army Funeral Honors Team at the Toquerville, Utah Cemetery following the service at 3:00 p.m (Mountain Standard Time).

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454.

Family and friends are invited to share memories on his digital guestbook below.