Toga Party and Temples -- In Memoriam, Carr Smith

One of my friends from high school, Michelle Smith Tobey, lost her dad this week. An incredible father of four passed away suddenly following a massive heart attack.

As requests came for great memories, I shared this one.

If you knew Carr Smith, feel free to share your memories here: www.carrsmith.org

In the mean time, here's the memory I shared: carrsmith.org/toga-parties-and-temples/

I met the Smith Family sometime in 2001, as a sophomore in high school. I had a class with Michelle, so we had regular “study sessions” for our AP Euro History exams. Many of them took place in the Smith’s basement. We’d have movie parties (history movies, mind you), and I always loved coming over.

Occasionally, group dates took me to the Smith home, and it was always fun to see Carr tease/scare/intimidate some new and unsuspecting boy. I quickly learned the scare factor was a facade.

A toga party dance brought us to the Smith Family dining room table. Menus were printed in Greek, and I was feeling quite impressed with the preparation. Decked out in children’s bed sheets, we had some sort of activity while, as Carr put it, “The duck was basting.” Every few minutes, he would come back and tease us a little more. While the girls stifled their giggles, we young, naive (but brave) boys began to give each other anxious looks. What was this Greek meal going to be anyway?

Imagine our relief when Carr burst through the door into the dining room, with smile as big as his heart, carrying a silver platter adorned with food from Wendy’s (a classic among us friends). Our Greek meal was even better than I could have imagined. I could not have been more relieved.

Through the years, my contact with the Smiths slowed, as I served a mission and Michelle got married. Every once in a while, it was always a treat to run into them at the store or elsewhere.

So imagine my delight when, in 2008, I ran into them at the Rexburg Temple dedication–and they remembered me!

I’ll always carry those fond memories of Carr, for they are some of the choicest. I know I’ll remember them and relive them through the coming years, and I’m sure I’ll share the duck story with friends. And someday, when I have a teenage daughter, I hope I can playfully intimidate her young suitors and then, with as much love and ease as Carr had, become their friendand make them feel comfortable in my home.

Heather and I send our thoughts, love and prayers!

Much love,
Jared Smart