Karma Smith

Karma Smith

Aug. 3, 1931 – Aug. 3, 2023

Karma Smith, beloved aunt and cherished friend, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Pleasant Grove, Utah, on her 92nd birthday.

Karma was born Aug. 3, 1931, to Russell Ward and Amy Neilson Smith in Lovell. She was the fourth of six children. Sadly, her mother passed away when she was just 9 years old. Two years later her father married Margaret Pryde Crowder. The newly blended family grew from seven to 11.

Karma was raised on a small family farm in Cowley, learning invaluable lifelong lessons, including a strong work ethic. From a young age she became very responsible.    

After graduating from high school Karma moved to Lovell and found a job working as a telephone operator for several years. She was then called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the North Central States Mission. She enjoyed her mission and was able to share her love of music as she preformed with many other missionaries. After her mission she moved to Salt Lake City, where she worked for the church as a switchboard operator and in the membership records department. She later transferred jobs to the admitting department at the Primary 

Children’s Hospital. 

She spent time in California and worked in San Francisco as a switchboard operator and also in Santa Barbara at the Devereux School. She eventually moved back to Salt Lake City and worked at the University of Utah doing secretarial work. Karma also worked for several retired people, helping them in their homes. In her later years she lived in Orem, Utah. She made many wonderful lifelong friends wherever she worked and lived.

Karma was very talented and creative. She enjoyed embroidery, making jewelry, ceramics, painting, sewing and decorating cakes.  Making feather art became one of her unique specialties. This was a very tedious job as she had to pluck all the feathers, sort, wash and dry them. Her creations were beautiful and were sold in gift shops. 

Karma also loved to cook and dance. She danced well into her senior years. Her many interests also included playing the ukulele, reading and writing short stories and poetry. She was a historian, and her record books are a treasure to many.  

Karma was forced to retire early after the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. However, this gave her more time to create. She painted many beautiful paintings in the final years of her life. She also suffered from scleroderma, lupus and other illnesses for decades. Despite these challenges, she was able to live a rich, interesting life. She was a grand lady with an unmatched spirit and personality.

Karma loved her Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and her faith sustained her throughout her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Russell, Amy and Margaret Smith; sisters Arleen and Claudette; brothers Metz, Craig and Larry; stepsisters Doris and Janet; and stepbrother Charles.

Karma is survived by her many nieces and nephews.  

A memorial service was held Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Orem, Utah.  

Another service will be held Saturday, Sept. 2, at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cowley, where family will gather. Interment will follow in the Cowley Cemetery. 

“Life has been good and full. I have enjoyed breathtaking moments, especially as the sun is going down.”  –Karma