Obituary of Steven Duane Smalley

Steven Duane Smalley passed away surrounded by his family on February 24, 2024.

Steve was born May 28, 1933 to Steven Mahaffey Smalley and Zelda Smalley (Sandefur) in Neodesha, Kansas. He was one of 6 children. He grew up on the family farm where he learned honesty, responsibility, respect and the simple things in life like riding his horse to the nearby one-room schoolhouse. 

In his youth he enjoyed playing baseball and was in charge of the equipment. He also was involved in 4H where he raised his pig Daisy May who won 1st prize. 

He met Jewel York shortly before joining the Army and wrote to her everyday while stationed in Germany. Upon returning from the service they were married in 1955. They started their life together in a small trailer in Manhattan, Kansas while he attended Kansas State where he studied Dairy Manufacturing. After graduation, he was hired by Safeway where he worked for the next 33 years including positions in Seattle, Vancouver, Edmonton, Omaha and finally, Denver. 

Along the way, they had three sons, Steven, Michael, and David and the boys could always count on their dad. As the manager of the ice cream plant, Steve always brought home plenty of frozen treats, even having to remind the boys not to sell them to their friends. Steve and Jewel raised their children to value hard work as well as enjoying time together camping, fishing, trips back to the farm in Kansas and going to Denver Bears baseball games. 

When he retired in 1992, Steve and Jewel traveled across the US including Hawaii and all along the east coast. Steve sharpened up his poker skills and spent many hours at the Elks club. He also enjoyed golfing with his friends and building an impressive silver coin collection. Steve was a loving and supportive grandfather, taking his whole family to Disneyworld and treating his grandchildren to nightly bedtime stories. The grandchildren also knew they could always count on Grandpa. 

Preceded in death by his parents, his sisters and brothers Clarence, Jean, Lois, Sharon, Mike and daughter-in-law Jeanne. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jewel. His three sons Steven, Michael (Lisah), David (Andrea) as well as 8 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, along with a group of nieces and nephews who adored him. His kindness, open heart, and welcoming soul will be missed by all and never forgotten. 

Please join us for a memorial service honoring Steve on March 19, 2024 at 11:00 am to be held at Aspen Mortuaries, 6370 Union St, Arvada, Colorado.