Barbara Smith

Barbara Rae Smith, 82, of Yuma, Arizona, passed away on August 14th, 2025.

Born on January 29, 1943, to George Alfred Fowler and Margaret “Pat” (Patterson) Fowler in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She had 3 siblings. She spent her youth growing up in Idaho Falls. She was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Barbara met Evan Smith in 1961, at Tautphaus Park, where she was working and he was delivering linen, he offered her a ride home, 3 weeks later they were married. They remained married for 59 years. They moved to California shortly after they married where they started their family. Toni, 1962, and Terry, 1963, came into the world after they married, Ricky, 1970, and Kevin, 1971, showed up after an 8-year break. In 1976 Evan decided the family needed a change and they returned to Idaho in 1977. After raising their kids in Idaho, she and Evan decided that they were tired of the cold and relocated to sunny Arizona, where they lived the rest of their days.

Barbara and Evan were the owners of A Mattress Shop on Yellowstone Highway.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Evan Smith, her parents George and Margaret Fowler, one sibling, Richard Fowler, one son, Richard Evan Smith, one grandson, Tyson John (TJ) Harper. She is survived by three children and their spouses, Toni (Smith) and (Mike) Scarboro, Terry and (Elisa) Smith, Kevin and (Nicole) Smith, two siblings and their spouses, Georgann (Fowler) and Frank Kocsis, George “Ellis” (Terri) Fowler, 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Barbara really enjoyed being around her family and friends. She loved her family and her cats; she lived for her cats. She was an avid seamstress. She made many beautiful quilts and many table runners, microwave bowls, purses, wallets, you name it she made it. She had a small business “Catnips Closet” located in the Foothills Mattress and Furniture, the business Evan had opened when they moved to Yuma. The business stayed open after Evan’s retirement at which time her son Kevin took over.

Services to be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Skyline Ward, 2345 W. 17th St. S, Idaho Falls, ID, on September 13th at 11:00 a.m.. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Idaho Falls.

Please make any donations to a Humane Society or Pet rescue (sanctuary), or the American Heart Association.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.