Mary Lucille Hulme Smart was born on August 27, 1932, in Bloomington, Idaho, to John and LaVerna Faylor Hulme. She was welcomed by five older brothers: Orval, Horace, Melvin, Philip, and Charles. They loved her and protected her. She loved her home in the country and was proud to be a farmer’s daughter. She liked to think that her maiden name Hulme was the first syllable of “humor,” and indeed she was the queen of puns and witty jokes. She always had a happy smile and a friendly word. After a wonderful life full of learning, music, laughter, service, faith, and love, Lucille’s mortal journey came to an end on March 11, 2023.
Lucille loved her life and wanted to record every experience. Her lifetime of journal-keeping testifies to that fact. She loved poetry and good literature. She liked to read and surrounded herself with good books. She became an authority on spelling and good grammar. She loved school and was an honor student. She wanted to get good grades and often became the teacher’s pet. She served as a student body officer every year of high school, served as the yearbook editor, and was elected the homecoming queen. At BYU, she served as president of Phi Chi Theta, a national women’s business fraternity. She graduated from Brigham Young University in 1955. After graduation, she taught secretarial training at Carbon High School and Carbon College in Price, Utah. Years later, she worked as a secretary for members of the Quorum of the Seventy at the Church Offices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. However, her favorite career was being a mother and homemaker. In this, she truly excelled.
On June 8, 1956, she married Grant W. Smart in the Salt Lake Temple. Grant adored Lucille, and affectionately called her, “Beauty.” Through the coming years, her life-long dream was realized when she became a mother to seven beloved children: Richard, Nita, Paul, Nancy, Lisa, Nathan, and Mary. They were her joy. She was happy that they chose outstanding companions and blessed her with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
At an early age, she was introduced to the piano, and it became her good friend. She did not need to be the soloist; she was happy to be the accompanist. Throughout her life, she chose to be the secretary; she did not need to be the boss. Her significant work behind the scenes, however, allowed everyone in the spotlight to shine, including her.
Music was an important part of her life, and she shared her talents freely. She was an excellent sight reader and was honored to serve as an accompanist and play for funerals and other events. She helped many develop their own talents and love for music by teaching piano for many years. In addition to serving as ward organist, she enjoyed playing the organ in the Bountiful and Nauvoo Temples. In her home as a mother, Lucille used music to bring a giggle, inspire, calm, praise, call to work, unite people, and bring the spirit.
Grant and Lucille made their home in Bountiful, Utah. Home was her haven. She wanted it to be a place of peace. She was happiest as a homemaker, baking bread and apple pies. Gardening was also one of her gifts. She loved to tend and nurture. Whatever and whomever she touched blossomed. She liked vegetables and wanted to grow her own. Indian summer was her favorite season because she could harvest the fruits of her labor.
Lucille served in nearly every auxiliary in the church, beginning as the primary pianist when she was only 11 years old. She served as a compassionate service leader, a member of stake and ward Primary and Young Women presidencies, and as the Bountiful Utah Stake Relief Society President. However, her favorite calling was teaching spiritual living in Relief Society. She enjoyed reading the scriptures, and many were committed to memory. Years later, she and her husband, Grant, served a Nauvoo Illinois Temple Mission when the temple was rebuilt. She also served in the Bountiful Temple. She had a testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and lived that testimony. She had a great love for the Savior and His gospel.
Lucille admired her ancestors, collected their histories, and organized their family records. She planned many extended-family gatherings and reunions. She adored her family and loved everyone; each child and grandchild felt like they were her favorite. Each person she met was considered a dear friend.
She loved to serve others. Service and compassion were a part of her genes. Her family and her church were the objects of her affection. Throughout her life, she had the innate ability to see people as God sees them, as His beloved sons and daughters. While taking her to run errands in the community, her family soon realized that they needed to plan for additional time for Lucille to be able to greet, get to know, and lift every person who crossed her path. If she knew you, she loved you and will continue to love you in a future association together. She will be dearly missed, but she has been promoted, and we know that heaven is blessed to receive a valiant daughter Home.
She is survived by her husband, Grant, and their seven children, Richard (Mary Lue) Smart; Nita (Burnett) Facer; Paul (Karen) Smart; Nancy (Kevin) Duncan; Lisa (Grant) Roberts; Nathan (Alison) Smart; Mary (Brian) Holdstock. She is a grandmother to 29 and a great-grandmother to 32.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, grandson Spencer Smart, and great-granddaughter Angel Ruby.
Her funeral will be on Friday, March 17, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bountiful 9th Ward Building, 585 E. Center Street, Bountiful, Utah. Viewings will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main Street, Bountiful, Utah, and Friday, March 17, 2023, from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the Bountiful 9th Ward Building. We look forward to the time we will see Lucille again, where she will wrap us in a big hug and exclaim, “Goodie! You’re here!”
Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.
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