Marvin Eugene "Gene" Smith

Richfield, Utah - Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, brother-in-law and uncle, Marvin Eugene "Gene" Smith, age 77, died peacefully at the Richfield Care Center on November 4, 2015. Gene was born in Batesville, Arkansas on September 9, 1938, a son of Troy Garlin and Eva Hollowell Smith. The family moved to Needles, California in 1943, when Troy went to work for the railroad. Gene attended school in Needles, California until his Junior year. After returning to Arkansas, he graduated from Batesville High School in 1956. Following graduation, he went back to Barstow, California and hired out with the Santa Fe Railroad in 1958. He worked out of Barstow or Needles until his retirement in 2001 (43 years). He truly loved his job and all things Railroad. Gene met Margaret Ann Hart in Barstow. They were married March 21, 1959 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They have two daughters and two sons, all born in Barstow. When his children were young, Gene was involved with many of their scouting and school activities. As a young man, Gene was an excellent baseball player, bowler and really loved to shoot pool. One of his biggest pleasures was watching any of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren playing sports. Gene and Margaret moved to Richfield in 2008. They loved Utah and planned to live out their retirement years in a land of four seasons. Gene was a talented artist and won many awards for his crafts. He drew and painted pictures of Locomotives, trains and Big Rig Trucks. He designed, built and decorated the buildings and landscaping for his model train layouts. Gene designed and built model houses, complete with furnishings and landscaping. He also did wood-burning and paintings of Native American pictures and built model Native American Villages. Gene's family wished to express their sincere gratitude to everyone at the Richfield Care Center for the many kindnesses and outstanding care shown him during his stay there. Also to Pastor and Mrs. Lloyd Bridges from the Good Shepherd Church, for the Lord's peace and love they were able to bring to him in his times of need. He is survived by his loving wife, Margaret, of Richfield; children: Deborah Jean Wade of Bullhead City, Arizona; Carol Ann Jones of Richfield; Edmond Troy Smith and Eric Eugene Smith, both of Needles, California; 8 grandchildren 11 great-grandchildren; brothers and sister: Troy Garlin Smith Jr. of Williams, Arizona; Austin John Smith of Ft. Mohave, Arizona; Carolyn Francis Cox of Ft. Worth, Texas; many nieces and nephews and lifelong friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Eva Hallowell Smith and Troy Garlin Smith; a step-mother: Dorothy Gaither Smith and a sister, Patsy JoAnn Smart. Memorial services will be held on December 1, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. at the Dimond Sons Mortuary, 222 E Street in Needles, California and also at the Good Shepherd Church, 1270 West 1800 South in Richfield on December 4, 2015 at 11:00 A.M.