Craig Kendal Smith

With heavy hearts, we announce the mortal passing of our beloved father, Craig Smith, 74, due to the progression of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). He left this Earth peacefully in his sleep on March 11, 2025 in Mesa. 

Craig Kendal Smith was born in Mesa Arizona, on July 30, 1950 to Don Alden Smith and Rhoda Wilma Knudsen. Craig was the fifth of six children. He lived his entire life in the Mesa/Gilbert area, with the exception of a two year mission for the LDS church to New Zealand, and three childhood years in New Mexico. Craig considered himself very blessed to have worked his entire adult life at the Mesa Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He started working in the cafeteria with his mother Wilma, at age 18. He retired in 2013 as Chief of Physical Operations. In 1975 Craig married Karen Bible at the Mesa Temple and together they brought seven beautiful children into the world: Kendal, Kirk, Jacob, Jesse, Miriam, Aaron and Eric Smith. Craig and Karen separated in 1994. The following year, Craig met his sweet second wife Kathleen Slaughter at a church activity. They were married and sealed in the Mesa Temple in January 1996.  Kathleen brought to the union her five wonderful children from a previous marriage: Teresa, Daniel, Alan, Bonnie and Kacy Frey. Together Craig and Kathleen welcomed their son Taylor at the end of 1996, completing their blended family. 

During his life, Craig was an avid outdoorsmen and hiked hundreds of trails all over the Arizona mountains and rode his bicycle throughout the valley. He also loved playing classical music on the piano, inspiring many of his children to follow. He raised all of his children to appreciate music as well as the love of the outdoors while hiking, camping and exploring. After retirement, Craig and his wife Kathleen enjoyed traveling the world together and with family, including 13 cruises! He also spent several hours every month volunteering at the Gilbert and Mesa Temples. His entire life was devoted in service to his Savior Jesus Christ in and out of the temple, and to all around him, who he considered his brothers and sisters. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for a brother or sister in need. Craig leaves a legacy of an extremely powerful faith and testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which he passed on to his posterity. He was faithful and inspiring to those around him until the very end. Craig would not want sadness or grief on his behalf. This humble disciple of Christ has been liberated from his sick body and his spirit is now in the arms of the Lord. He has been gloriously reunited with his eternal family on the other side of the veil! 

Craig is preceded in death by: parents Alden and Wilma; sisters Dawn and Peggy; sister-in-law Eddeania. Craig is survived by: his sweetheart Kathleen; two sisters, Jamie, LuAnn and their spouses; brother, Dwight; 13 children and their spouses; 18 grandchildren (two spouses); five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A public viewing for our father will be held at Meldrum Mortuary in Mesa on Friday March 21, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 PM. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM Saturday March 22, 2025 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 234 N. Greenfield Rd. Gilbert, AZ. Internment will follow at Mesa City Cemetery at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Craig’s funeral expenses or make a donation in his name to the Arizona chapter of the ALS Association:

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