Ronald Gene Smith, 82, passed away, Thursday, December 15, 2022, in Greeley, Colorado.  He was born March 16, 1940, to Hobart and Edythe (Littlefield) Smith in Pryor, Oklahoma.

As a child Ron's family moved around a lot. His father worked as a Party Chief on an oil field survey crew.  Ron attended various schools in Montana, along the Yellowstone area, Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon, Wyoming, and Washington.  He moved back to Oklahoma and eventually graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1958.

As an adult, Ron enjoyed exploring his many talents. He worked as a surveyor, (In Utah for an Oil Company), he also worked at Dickie's Studio, (a family-owned portrait studio in Sapulpa, Oklahoma), a flower shop, and various corporations throughout Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also enjoyed working as a drywall finisher in Locus Grove, Oklahoma.

In July 1978, Ron moved from Locus Grove to Greeley, Colorado to help in the Highland Hills Free Will Baptist Church.  Ron was only planning to stay 18 months but met the love of his life Yvonne Kitzman and decided to stay longer.  They were married September 5, 1980 in Greeley, Colorado.

Ron was a man of many talents.  A few of his talents included being a skilled problem solver and exploring creative arts. Ron was a great cook and loved experimenting in the kitchen. He was very talented in woodcarving and could make beautiful flower arrangements. He was also extremely skilled in leather crafts. He enjoyed designing backdrops for Vacation Bible School.  He even designed and made a Porcelain Indian Doll.  He was very musically gifted as well and could play the banjo, guitar, violin, piano, & organ.  He was also fluent in three languages including English, Spanish, and Cherokee. On one occasion, Yvonne's co-workers had a birthday party and to everyone's surprise Ron came in playing the guitar and singing in Spanish.

Ron was also a very skilled drywall finisher.  He worked for Straight and Segelke, Leonard Hoke, and Allen Straight. Throughout his drywall career, builders would consistently request that their house be reserved for Ron. He always had a story to tell with a big grin on his face, he never met a stranger.  Ron also loved to fish and hunt, especially in the Colorado mountains.

Survivors include, his wife Yvonne Smith, of Greeley, Colorado, Brother, Wes Smith, (Linda), of Locust Grove, Oklahoma, Brothers-in-law, Ted Kitzman, (Lori), Wiggins, Colorado, Edward Kitzman, (Dorothy), Fort Morgan, Colorado, Kenneth Kitzman, (Camilla), Wiggins, Colorado, And Sister-In-law, Marilyn Thomas, (Raymond), Wiggins, Colorado.  Numerous Nephews and Nieces.

He was preceded in Death by his parents, Hobart and Edythe Smith, And Ted and Clara Kitzman, Nephews and Niece; Edward Kitzman, Matthew Kitzman, Rusty Thomas, Alec Thomas, and Mandy Thomas.

Funeral Services will be Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 10:30 am at the Wiggins Community Church in Wiggins, Colorado.  Interment will follow in the Hoyt Cemetery, in Hoyt, Colorado.