Earl “Dean” Smith Jr., 69 of Stuart passed away on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at Mercy Hospital. Cremation services have taken place, and no services are planned per his wishes. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Dean Smith Memorial Fund c/o Diane Doherty, PO Box 594, Stuart, IA 50250.
Dean was born on December 24, 1955, to Verna Hawbaker (Ault) and Earl Dean Smith Sr. of Ankeny, Iowa. He grew up in the Redfield area and attended Dexfield Schools. He graduated from Dexfield High School with the Class of 1974. He worked for Smith Painting of Dexter for over 30 years primarily spray painting and sandblasting pipelines. He also worked painting commercial buildings and residential homes. He enjoyed having a good time hanging out at some of his favorite establishments with family and friends. Dean was a lifelong Iowa Hawkeye, Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Cubs fan. He loved his music, his stereo and album collection and hosting parties for his friends and family. He also loved camping, fishing, hunting, working on classic cars and trucks and traveling. He liked to have fun and never took anything too seriously. He was a funny, kind and generous man that will be missed by many.
Dean was preceded in death by his father, Dean Sr., his loving mother Verna, brother Tim Smith, father-in-law Dan Doherty Sr., sister-in-law Shelly Doherty, brother-in-law Kyle Stanley, brother-in-law Bill Williams and maternal and paternal grandparents.
He leaves behind his wife of 34 years, Diane Doherty of Stuart; daughter Stephanie (Travis) Jenkins of Colorado Springs, Colorado and son Stephen (Chelsea) of Minneapolis, Minnesota. His grandchildren: Anthony, Kalijah and Kayleona, great-grandchild Emberlynn all of Colorado Springs, Colorado. His siblings: Steve Smith of Dexter, Linda Williams of Des Moines, Brian Smith of West Des Moines, Tammy Snyder of Redfield, Layne (Dawn) Hawbaker of O’Fallon, Missouri, mother-in-law Joyce Doherty of Stuart and brother-in-law Dan (Deb) Doherty Jr. of Stuart, and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends that will miss him dearly.