SMITH, Emmit Stanley - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Safford, Arix – Emmit Stanley Smith, 84, Safford, Ariz died Feb 26, 2003.  He was born Oct 15, 1920 in Sterling, the son of Guy and Lucretia Miller Smith.  He married Louise Schade Perry May 1, 1983.  She survives.  He obtained his education from Veedersburg schools.  Following his graduation from high school, he furthered his studies at Purdue University, West Lafayette.  In the early 1940s he enlisted in the US Navy to help support the war effort abroad.  In 1945, following an honorable discharge, he return home to the states and relocated with his family from Indiana to Tuscon.  Soon thereafter, he obtain work with Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Co.  He began his career as a lineman and learned many phases of the operations. In 1956, he was advanced to the managerial position for Mountain Bell in Greenlee County where he remained until his retirement in 1986, following more than 30 years of hard work and service.  His retirement was short-lived.  He soon began working in the assessor’s  office from the telephone company of Greenlee County and the town of Clifton where he remained until his retirement in 1986 following more than 30 years of hard work and service.  After his marriage in 1985 he and his wife lived in York Valley and later relocated to Safford in 1987 where he resided until his death.  He was a member of the Masonic Lodge BPOE Lodge #1174 of Clifon, former president of the Clifton-Morenci Rotary Club for over a decade and a volunteer for the American Chamber of Commerce  for nearly 10 years, a former member of the Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church of Morenci and an active member of the Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian Church.  Survivors besides the wife include two daughters, Sharon Gough and Debra Cara (Frank); a son, Max (Judy) Gough; three stepsons William (Joann) Perry, Ronald (Odessa( and Stephen (Rosanna) Perry; his sister, Mona Lee Craig; five grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren; 11 step grand grandchildren and a step great grandson.  Memorial services were at 11 a.m. March 7 in the Shepherd if the Valley Presbyterian Baptist Church by Dr. Robbin McDonald. The family suggests contributions he made in hi