Jan. 9, 1939 - Feb. 2, 2026
Date of Service: Feb. 13, 2026
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Service Program
BURLEY – Jay Luther Smith, an 87-year-old resident of Burley, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 2, 2026, at his home in Burley with his true love by his side.
Jay was born on January 9, 1939, in Menan, Idaho, to George and Ida Smith. He was the eldest of nine siblings and learned the value of hard work at an early age while growing up in a rural farming community. As a young boy, he fed cows, hauled hay, and later worked alongside his father at the family sawmill. Jay skidded logs with work horses and a caterpillar to help build potato cellars from the very timber they harvested. These skills would shape a lifetime of craftsmanship, ingenuity, and grit. He went on and proudly served his country in the United States Army and the Army National Guard before being honorably discharged.
Jay’s greatest joy, and most meaningful accomplishment, was marrying the love of his life, Donna Laurene Johnson. They were wed in View, Idaho, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on September 12, 1961, beginning a devoted marriage that spanned more than 64 years. Together, they built a beautiful family and were blessed with three children: Sandy, Jerry, and Kelly. Side by side, Jay and Donna worked hard and eventually founded their own business, Donna’s Sand and Gravel. A true reflection of their partnership in both life and work.
Over the years, Jay wore many hats. He was a diesel mechanic, heavy equipment operator, and long-haul truck driver, tackling every role with determination and pride. Known for his friendly demeanor, Jay had a rare gift – he never met a stranger. He believed in people, always looking for the good in them and offering endless second chances.
Jay was famously stubborn, but in the best way. If someone told him he couldn’t do something, he took it as a personal challenge to prove that he could. Though often encouraged to slow down as he got older, Jay refused to let age define his limits. He was fiercely independent and never one to wait for someone else to do what he could do himself.
A kid at heart, Jay lived for a good time. He loved fishing, camping, four-wheeling, and especially tinkering. He had an unmatched talent for building masterpieces from scraps, trades, and treasures others overlooked. He delighted in restoring old Caterpillar equipment and could engineer just about any idea that popped into his head. Jay often said it wasn’t enough to own a tape measure, but that you had to know how to read it. It wasn’t unusual to find him at the coffee shop sketching invention plans on a napkin. His latest pride and joy was a workshop built from shipping containers—complete with a garage door he designed and built himself. A gifted woodworker, Jay poured love into every piece he created, leaving his family with priceless, handcrafted treasures that will be cherished for generations.
Jay Luther Smith will be remembered for his hard work, big heart, clever mind, and unwavering determination. His legacy lives on with the family he built, the things he created, and the countless lives he touched and changed along the way.
Jay is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Donna; his siblings; Dennis Smith, and Clara Mitchell; his children, Sandy (Darwin) Gillett, Jerry Smith, and Kelly (Trish) Smith; his grandchildren, Jesse (Amy) Gillett, Katrina (Anthony) Gratzer, Heather (Andrew) Jones, Dakota Smith, Logan Smith, Kirsten (Eli) Stephenson, and Emily (Dustin) Herrington; his great-grandchildren, Kievan, Katie, Teagan, Barrett, Zoey, Zane, Kimber, Maida, Daxton, Ember, Jett, and Aaron; additional family, Gary Mickelson, Beverly Smith, Debbie Smith, Lynn (Pat) Johnson, Della (Francisco) Ortiz, and Darrell Free.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Ida (Winder) Smith; his brothers, Ted and Georgie; his sisters, Bonnie Hopkins, Connie (Jim) Stible, Mary Mickelson, and Emma Fox; additional family, Jaxson and Jarrett Jones, Walter and Mary (Southern) Johnson, Walter (Eileen) Johnson, Earl (Betty) Johnson, and Trisha Free.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, February 13, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, located at 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley. Burial will follow at View Cemetery with military rites provided by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Group.
Family and friends will be received at the funeral home from 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday, February 12, and one hour prior to the funeral on Friday.
A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/B4Dx2xwE8lM.
