Jeffory Robert Smith, 59, died of lung cancer on Sunday, July 17, 2022 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Hospital.
Jeff was born on August 31, 1962 in Rochester, MN to Robert and Sherron (Maxon) Smith. He graduated from Byron High School and lived in Byron from 1977-1981. He worked in numerous custodial positions. Jeff married Shirley Slivnik in Byron, MN.
Jeff enjoyed geneology and did extensive research of both the Smith and Maxon families. He had a passion for old clocks and could put together amazing slide shows on the computer.
Jeff is survived by his mother, Sherron Fuchs; daughter, Nicole Smith of Rochester, MN; and sister, Julie Smith-Leqve of Rochester, MN.
Jeff is preceded in death by his wife, Shirley (Slivnik) Smith; father, Robert L. Smith; stepfather, Leo Fuchs; paternal grandparents, Arleigh Smith, Gladys Smith; and maternal grandparents, Curtis Maxon, Helen Maxon.
We will be having a Celebration of Life at 11:00am on Saturday, August 13th, at Calvary Chapel, 814 11th Ave NE, Rochester MN 55906. Lunch will follow.
Rochester Cremation Services is assisting the family with arrangements. Memories and condolences of Jeff may be shared at rochestercremationservicesmn.com
I’m so sorry to hear about Jeff. He was a good man. I worked with him at Samaritan. Thoughts and prayers to the family.
Jeff was a friend of my son Kip and I met him several times. I will always remember him as one the kindest people with a great sense of humor. We need more people like him in the world and he will be sorely missed.
Words cannot express the sadness I feel for the passing of Jeff. Anyone whoever knew Jeff, quickly realized he had the biggest of hearts and befriended everyone lucky enough to meet and know him. As a kid, one of the things I always looked forward to whenever we visited from California was to see my cousin Jeff, we so enjoyed our sleepover’s at grandpa and grandma Maxon’s… including sleeping next to the ghost attic. When my family moved back to Minnesota, I always enjoyed our camping and canoeing adventures with our cousin Steve Crandall. All of you are in my thoughts and prayers, and may you all find solace in your hearts with the many memories you shared with Jeff.
I have known Jeff since he was three years old, when he and his parents and three month old sister Julie moved in next door to our house. So I watched him grow up, playing with our children. Over the years I have been friends with his mother and his sister and him. Jeff was a good man, often finding things to laugh about, sometimes repeating to me phrases I had said on the past. I will miss him.
I’ve known Jeff since he was three years old, when his parents and his sister and he moved in next door to us. He and his sister Julie played with our children. Jeff often found amusing things for all of them to do, such as standing near a lawn sprinkler with an umbrella. Throughout the years I have remained friends with him and his family. Jeff often found things to laugh about, sometimes repeating phrases I had said long ago, then laughing. I will miss Jeff.
I am cousin from far, and in reading the comments above I’m am so glad he had such great friends and family close to him. And yes the world needs more people with, smiles, kind hearts, and the willingness to be like cousin Jeff. God gave us this gift in Jeff and has now called him home. God bless the family and friends.
I remember him at the Autism group meetings always wanted to suggest films for us to watch.
I knew Jeff through high school, he went out for track n field. Jeff was my neighbor at the mobile home in Rochester. We shared many talks at night. Jeff was an outstanding worker, I worked for him at Macy’s Department store, he knew his stuff at work. I had the opportunity to assist him towards the end of his life, I made him dinner in the evening, and he liked that. I loved you Jeff I won’t forget you, we sang lean on me to cheer each other, thank you Jeff for your friendship.
Sorry to hear about Jeff’s passing. I became friends with him on Facebook and he informed me that we were related. Well sure enough we are. It was great to have this conversations with him and I learned a lot. Don’t lose all the genealogy work he did because it is great work. He was really a fun man