Wanda Turley Smith

Wanda May Turley Smith (99) passed away peacefully the evening of October 2, 2025. She was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother to a large family of 128 individuals (including in-laws). She was born on May 14, 1926, in Aripine, Arizona, to Fred and Wilma Turley, and grew up on Sundown Ranch.

Growing up during the Great Depression and living on an isolated cattle ranch taught Wanda lessons of resourcefulness and self-reliance. Their ranch house did not have running water until she was ten years old and never had electricity while she lived there. In Aripine, she attended a one-room grade school and then moved to Snowflake to attend high school.

Wanda attended Arizona State Teachers College for two years and then boarded a cross-country train to Norfolk, Virginia to marry Augustus Marion Smith, who was stationed in the army there during World War II. They were married on March 18, 1945. Soon after the conclusion of the war, they relocated to Phoenix, Arizona where they raised seven children.

Wanda’s greatest joys in life were her faith and family. She was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. She was actively involved in the Church and volunteered her service in many assignments. She and her husband served a full-time, eighteen-month Church mission to Sydney, Australia.

The greatest desires of her heart were devoted to raising and influencing seven children, twenty-eight grandchildren, forty-four great grandchildren, twenty-two great-great grandchildren, and twenty-seven in-laws. She also loved family gatherings with her many Turley and Smith relatives.

Wanda found great joy in providing daily acts of service to family, friends, and neighbors. Music was one of her many talents. She frequently accompanied others on the piano at church and family gatherings. Another great passion was genealogy. She spent a lifetime learning about and chronicling the lives of her ancestors and sharing that information with her posterity. In addition, she helped write several books about family members for her extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Carol, and brothers Stan Turley and Grant Turley. Wanda is survived by her adoring sisters Monita Robison and Marilyn Larson. She leaves behind a large and loving family, with children and grandchildren listed below:

• David Smith (Judy) – Stephanie Eliason, Stacy Moritz, Paula Smith, Russell Smith, Darren Smith, Brad Smith
• Susan LeSueur (Wayne) – Scott LeSueur, Amy LeSueur, Stephen LeSueur, Harmony LeSueur, Connor LeSueur
• Jennifer Adair (Chuck) – Shane Adair, Shauna Beynon, Marty Adair, Jody Fernandez, Brook Weinberg, Travis Adair
• Norman Smith (Marianne) – Jared Smith, Derek Smith, Nathan Smith, Wyatt Smith
• Spencer Smith (Jennifer) – Justin Smith, Ryan Smith, Jordan Olausson
• Brian Smith (Carrie) – Breanna Clifford, Gabriel Smith, Summer Maughan, Elise Smith

Wanda’s family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to her many friends, neighbors, and caregivers who supported her with such kindness in her later years. She found joy in the company of others, and your love and care truly enriched her life.

Funeral Service Date – 10/18/2025

Visitation – 9:00 AM

Service Time – 10:00 AM

Service Location – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel at 7752 E. McDowell Road, Mesa, AZ 85207

Interment – 12:30 PM at Mesa City Cemetery (1212 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201), burial site close to entrance on Country Club Road.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.