Kimball Wayne Smedley

Kimball Wayne Smedley, 74, of Kearns, Utah, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 17, 2026. Kim was born on December 28, 1951, to Joy Ellen Tuft and Samuel Wayne Smedley. He was an active boy—best remembered for picking on his younger siblings, being outside, tinkering, and generally keeping life interesting. There wasn’t a whole lot he couldn’t fix.

He married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Lynn Oyler, for time and all eternity on November 19, 1971, in the Salt Lake City Temple. After joining the Army and training as a helicopter mechanic, he was stationed in Germany in 1973. Nancy met him there, and after a few years of newlywed bliss, Dan (’77) and JoAnna (’78) joined the show. Kim loved the years he spent living in Germany and often told stories from that time.

After moving back to Utah, Kim and Nancy added two more kids, Stephanie (’82) and Robert (’84), raising their family in West Valley City. He spent his career as a diesel mechanic with Rocky Mountain Machinery and later UTA, retiring in 2017. He took pride in his work and the teams he supervised. He was a hard worker who taught his kids the same, and he used his skills to serve others—fixing leaks, building rooms and additions, mowing a lot of lawns, and showing up whenever someone needed a hand.

Kim and Karen Lynn Dickerman married in 2004, eight years after Nancy’s passing, adding her daughters, Charease and Chelsea to his family. Together they cared for Karen’s parents and worked hard to blend their family. Karen brought so much joy, kindness, and companionship to Kim’s life, things he had been missing for a long time. Kim found his greatest joy in his grandchildren. Eleanor said, “Papa gave the best snuggles and the best hugs.” Whether playing tug-of-war, “make Papa a mummy,” or slingshot—all with Kim’s elastic ace bandages— counting tiny toes, or (as the grandkids got older) getting outmatched in dad jokes, they brought him real relief from pain.

At family gatherings, Kim loved telling stories—slightly exaggerated, occasionally debated, but always entertaining. He usually cast himself as the hero, and somehow, no one minded. He had a way of keeping everyone laughing…or at least reacting. He never quite outgrew teasing—often continuing until the whole room was laughing or someone was on the verge of tears—a “talent” he passed on to his kids and grandkids.

A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kim served in many callings and had a quiet gift for noticing those who needed care. In his later years, as his health declined, he was very grateful for the love and service he received, especially from his wife, Karen. Every Thanksgiving, Kim would tell us how much he appreciated Karen and her love and care for him.

Kim had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ. During his final hospital stay, he bore that testimony one last time, sharing his faith in the Savior and the Plan of Happiness. We hold to that same testimony: that through Jesus Christ, we will be reunited as a family again. We have no doubt that Kim has embraced his Savior, Nancy, and his son, Robert. Kim did not love perfectly, but he loved hard and he loved often.

Kim is preceded in death by his wife Nancy (’96), mother (’13) father (’82) and son, Robert Smedley (’23), and infant stepson Christopher Turner (’84).

He is survived by his wife Karen (Kearns), son Daniel Smedley (West Valley City), daughters JoAnna Vea (West Valley City), Stephanie Smedley (Centerville), Charease Bichard (Clint, Kearns), and Chelsea Robison (Josh, West Valley City), grandkids: Samantha Burris, Morgan Humphrey (Brandt), Cassidy Burris, Alexander Burris, SuziAnn Bichard, Brooklyn Burris, Eleanor Robison, James Robison, and siblings: Ellen McNeil (Dell), Garth Smedley (Tami), Paula Dalton (George), and Connie Jarnagin (David).

The family would like to especially thank Kim’s siblings for the extraordinary care they gave their big brother in his final years. Because of you, we had him longer. Truly—thank you.

Funeral services will be Wednesday April 1, 2026, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 4260 W 5215 S, Kearns, UT 84118. A viewing will be held from 10:00-11:30 am and funeral from 12:00-1:00 pm. Interment with military honors will be at 1:30 pm at Valley View Memorial Park, 4335 W 4100 S, West Valley City, UT 84120.