His ancestors were pioneers who crossed the plains to Utah and left a great legacy for him to follow. 

   Roger spent his early years in Piedmont, California, and Cedar City, Utah, and moved to Palo Alto when Roger was eight. 

  After Paly, he attended Brigham Young University. He then served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in central Germany.

  Following his mission, he completed his studies and graduated from Brigham Young. In 1975 he married Jessie Robin Tanner in the Mesa, Arizona, temple. They made their home in Scottsdale and Roger became a real estate broker and general contractor. 

   He worked for several development companies in the Phoenix area and then became self-employed and built custom homes in Scottsdale, Pinnacle Peak and Phoenix. 

  His company, Coyote Real Estate, sold many lots in Nutrioso, Arizona. 

  Roger had many interests and hobbies. While living in Roseville, California for five years, he compiled and sold an Aerial Photograph Atlas for the greater Sacramento area, which he sold to real estate and development companies. 

   He purchased a PlasmaCam and started a business where he made metal art and sold it to a variety of companies. He also created a fishing map for Utah and the White Mountains in Arizona and sold the maps to  sporting goods stores. 

 He held many positions in his church. One of his favorite callings was scoutmaster. He worked for years helping many young men achieve their goal of being an Eagle Scout. He was also a district commissioner for the Theodore Roosevelt Council. 

   Roger was known for his positive approach to life. He was kind and friendly to everyone. For the last 20 years of his life, he had many medical problems and he continued to be an inspiration to family members and his friends. 

  He is survived by his wife, Jessie Robin Tanner Smith, his daughter, Jessie “Morgan” Smith Hardin (Joshua Lawrence Hardin), and five grandchildren: Logan Tanner Hardin, Bradley Lawrence Hardin, Jacob Lloyd Hardin, Wesley Joshua Hardin, and Clara Jessie Hardin. He was preceded in death by his son Tanner Parkinson Smith.  He is also survived by one brother, Boyd Charles Smith, Paly '58, of Palo Alto.