Riley E Smith August 21, 2007 ~ September 24, 2024

Riley E Smith was born to Chris and Brandy Smith on August 21, 2007, in Orem, UT. Riley returned to his loving Heavenly Father on September 24, 2024 in Salt Lake City following a tragic accident the night before in Salem.
To understand Riley, you must also know how close he was to his parents and his brother, Hunter. When Riley was diagnosed with kidney cancer at 5 ½ years old, it started an unbreakable bond between them all.
Throughout his treatments, Riley inspired many and taught us essential life lessons. They truly beat cancer as a family, each having a vital role in helping him through it. Their bonds were never the same. Every day was a gift.
Riley grew up in Salem, UT, where he had just started his junior year at Salem Hills High School. His favorite things about high school were being part of the FFA, welding, weight training, and all his friends.
Riley played soccer, baseball, and basketball in his younger days. He was very athletic, but these sports were not his thing. Riley’s heart was that of a true sportsman. He loved hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and riding ATVs, and dirt bikes.
His happiness and joy came from being in the great outdoors and experiencing these things with his parents and his brother. Riley had a passion for fishing and hunting that he learned from his dad.
Riley loved learning but did not always enjoy subjects at school. His passion for learning included watching YouTube videos on how to catch big fish, raise pheasants, and other valuable and exciting skills that helped him live his best life.
Riley had a passion for living. He never stopped once he was set on something he wanted. Once he completed it, it was on to the next thing. Whenever you saw Ri, you always saw Hunter with him. He and his brother have always been joined at the hip. They are best friends. One was never without the other.
Riley was known to be quiet, reserved, and shy in public, but his true and happiest personality shone through when he was in nature. Camping trips were a fun and special time for Riley and his family. Riley loved visiting Blanding to spend time with his grandparents, Don and JoAnn Smith, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
His Grandpa Don loved to take Riley and Hunter on true educational and exploration tours where he taught them about mines, dinosaur bones, Indian sites, and many other interesting things.
Blanding is a special place for the Smith family. One of Riley’s favorite spots is Recapture Reservoir, where he caught his first trophy Pike just last year.
Riley loved camping with his parents and grandparents, Cindy and Scott Larsen, and other extended family members. They always had so much fun together, whether riding and hitting trails or hanging out by the campfire. He especially loved being with them at Fishlake, where he finally caught his trophy Tiger Musky this summer
Riley has worked for Salem City Recreation Department and TKB Plumbing, and loved his job cleaning horse stalls. He found joy in cleaning stalls because it allowed him to build a special bond with the horses, making each day at work feel rewarding for him.
This simple task made him genuinely happy as he knew each horse and would tell others about them. He would come home smelling like manure but had the biggest smile on his face!
Riley loved many things: hanging out with his cousins, hunting turkey, deer, elk and pheasants with his dad and Hunter, fishing, dirt bikes, trucks, and his mom, his friend Jaxon Taylor, cowboy boots and Hey Dude shoes, raising pheasants and being in FFA.
Riley fulfilled everything he wanted to do, everything he needed to do, and everything he was meant to do here on earth. His goodness was so profound that he leaves us a legacy of kindness and love.
Riley is survived by his parents Chris and Brandy Smith, brother Hunter Smith, grandmother JoAnn Smith, grandparents Cindy and Scott Larsen and Barry and Cindy Wilson, aunts and uncles and cousins who adore and love him.
Riley is preceded in death by his grandfather Don Smith, uncle Eric Johnson, uncle Jim Mickelsen, and baby cousin Joshua Axelgard.