Zion National Park (UT)
Funeral Held for Steve Smith and Family
A funeral service was held on Tuesday for wildland firefighter Steve Smith and his wife and daughter, killed in an accident on March 13th. With the concurrence of the park, we offer here an article written about that ceremony by Jennifer Weaver, a reporter from The Spectrum, a local paper, as a final tribute to the family:
Not a dry eye or a vacant seat was to be found at the funeral of the Smith family of Cedar City.
Steve Smith, 31, Amber Miller Smith, 27, and their 9-week-old daughter, Opal May Smith, died March 13 in a head-on collision, 60 miles north of Las Vegas, near Indian Springs. Relatives, friends and neighbors gathered in the town Amber grew up in Tuesday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Panguitch Stake Center to pay tribute to the family credited with a special zest for life and love for each other.
"This is a good day, a happy day, where we can celebrate their lives rather than simply mourn their deaths," said Scott Byron, Steve's best friend. "That's the way they would've wanted it."
Displays paying homage to the family began at the entrance into the church with pictures and memorabilia of each member of the small family individually and collectively. Steve's display reflected his occupation as an assistant fire use module leader for Zion National Park based out of Cedar City.
Numerous medals and plaques revealed how successful Amber was throughout her life. Scores of photos of Opal being kissed and hugged showed how much the infant was loved.
One woman pointed to a picture of Amber as the Garfield County Rodeo Queen and said she'd always remember her that way with sparkling eyes and curly hair. Another couple stood admiringly at the photo collage of baby Opal, remarking that the living angel was too perfect for the world and that is why she was called home.
Many of Steve's co-workers, wearing black strips across their firefighter badges, chuckled and pointed at a picture of him wearing a large brass belt buckle with his name engraved on it.
"You know that a belt buckle is important, especially here in the West, in Southern Utah and Texas," said Alex Viktora, Steve's co-worker and friend. "A belt buckle can say a lot about a man. Steve's buckle says a lot about Steve . . . Big, shiny and brass, and there it was."
Viktora was among the speakers at the funeral who was able to commemorate the unique qualities of the family with reflection on happier times. He said Steve worked as a fire fighter in North Carolina, New Mexico, California and Texas before arriving in Utah early in 2003. He was an avid hiker and fervent story teller, Viktora said.
"Everywhere he went he collected stories, music, food and most importantly many, many friends," said Viktora. "I'll never forget the first time I met him. He was on his old blue Kawasaki motorcycle. . .I think I liked Steve instantly. . .With Steve, every moment was fun."
Amber's brother Lance Miller spoke about his sister's childhood and adulthood which included achievements along the way in everything she did. She was a 4.0 student, English Sterling Scholar, state title holder in the long jump and 400 meters, and a member of the Academic All-State teams for girls. She also participated in basketball, volleyball and track, he said. She was an excellent pianist, gymnast and a cheerleader, he added. But to him, she was simply a "traveling hippie."
"Amber became a beloved member of the community. Everything she touched turned to gold," Miller said. "I think Amber went soul searching for something that traditional learning didn't offer. This is when she went through massage therapy that led her on the path that made her the spiritual, enlightened, self-actualized person that she is today."
Amber also became a certified yoga instructor and taught in Virginia and Sedona, Ariz. She had an extensive background in world travel and loved the outdoors in all its forms. The meshing of their mutual interests occurred when Steve and Amber wed atop Brian Head on Sept. 22, 2004, the autumn equinox. A few months later, on New Year's Eve, baby Opal arrived with thick, black hair, piercing blue eyes and facial expressions to melt the heart, Miller said.
The baby was honored with a serenade from her cousins with the song, "I Am a Child of God." Following remarks from Bishop Bret Taylor of the Panguitch LDS 4th Ward, the ward's choir sang "God Be With You Till We Meet Again."
Upon completion of the funeral, a procession to the graveside services included more than 10 fire trucks from national, state and local fire fighting agencies. L. Dean Clark recited a poem written by Amber's cousin, Jessica Miller, titled, "A Bond Unbroken."
It read, "So as the Father came to take them home, he just couldn't
take only one alone. Together they will all move on, never having to
break their bond."
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PARKS AND PEOPLE
NPS Alumni
Remembering Howard Chapman
Howard Henry Chapman, Jr., 79, died Monday, March 21, in Mount Vernon, WA following a long battle with Parkinson's disease.
He was born December 20, 1925 to Howard and Mildred Chapman in La Junta, Colorado and graduated from La Junta High School in 1943. He graduated in 1949 from Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University) after a stint in the Army Air Corps as a navigator, which led to a life long interest in the US Air Force. He spent three summers as a seasonal park ranger in Yellowstone National Park, before securing his first permanent position with the National Park Service at Saratoga National Historical Park, NY. in 1950. This was the start of a 40-year career in the National Park Service, culminating in his final position as Regional Director of the Western Region in San Francisco from 1971-1987.
During his career he served the park system as a ranger at Shenandoah National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. He was a planner in the 1950's of a survey of the Great Lakes for future park areas, as well as an instructor at the Horace M. Albright Training Center for rangers at Grand Canyon National Park. He also served as Superintendent of both Coulee Dam National Recreation Area in 1965 and then Grand Teton National Park from 1965-1971.
He was highly regarded within the NPS as a determined advocate for the preservation of our country's natural areas. He was thorough, precise, and fair, with high expectations for himself and those who worked with him. As he rose through the ranks of the NPS, he was considered by many to always be a ranger at heart, determined to carry out the mission of the NPS of conserving natural and historic sites for the enjoyment of future generations.
He was active on the board of the Southwest Parks and Monuments Association in his retirement, as well as serving as an interpretive volunteer at the Presidio in San Francisco. He was an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church, and a member of Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church.
He married Marion Huff on June 19, 1948. She preceded him in death in 2003, following 54 years of marriage. He is survived by daughter Susan (and John) Plummer of Blaine, WA and Cindy (and Steve) Weber of Mount Vernon, WA. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Kristen (and Lance) Kent of San Antonio, TX; Jessica (and John) Culley of Jacksonville, FL; Luke Weber of Bremerton, WA: Melissa, Laura and Jeffery Weber, all of Mount Vernon. He is also survived by three great grandchildren, Dominic Culley, Madeline Kent, and Joshua Chapman Kent. Also, sister-in-law Shirlie (and Milton) Workman of Fort Collins, CO and brother-in-law R. Martin Henry of El Cajon, CA. He was preceded in death by his sister, Wilma Henry.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, May 7 at 11:00am at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, 1511 E. Broadway, Mount Vernon, WA.
Memorials are suggested to the Western National Parks Association, 12880 N. Vistoso Village Drive, Tucson, AZ 85737.
[Submitted by Susan Plummer and Cindy Weber]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.