John Garland Smith

John Garland Smith, ‘Big John’, 49, of Casper, WY, suddenly passed away on June 24th, 2024, from what medical professionals thought to be a heart attack or a stroke. His loss is completely unexpected, and his family is profoundly saddened.

John was born on April 1, 1975 to Consuelo (Davis) Smith and Michael J Smith in the city of Cheyenne, WY. He was one of four children, including his elder sister Micole, and younger sisters Stephanie and Meghan. 

‘Big John’ earned his title young and was 6’4” by the time he was in high school. John went on to receive his Journeyman Electrician License, and had a long and successful career at Modern Electric. He was proud of his work, and it took him across Wyoming and the surrounding states. 

John married Destiny Goodspeed on September 19, 1997; they built a life and a family with two children: Ethen and Cedar Smith. He was an exemplary father and human being. John set an example of strength, honesty, and perseverance. 

A large part of John’s life was his love for his dogs. He enjoyed taking daily walks at Morad Park, and he was inseparable from his two border collies: Chevelle and Nova. Apart from his dogs, John also loved the outdoors. He was an avid fly fisherman, and he looked forward to taking his family on camping trips whenever possible. 

John faced the challenge of his life when he had a stroke in December, 2017. He lost most of the ability on his right side and had to retire from doing many things in life. However, he displayed incredible determination and strength by overcoming these obstacles. He consistently worked on improvement at Elkhorn Valley Rehabilitation Hospital. John was also an active member of Hilltop Baptist Church, and he enjoyed attending bible studies and worship services. 

His departure comes as a great shock and leaves a deep wound which is gravely felt by his entire family as well as countless others across a wide network of the community. 

John is preceded in death by his father Michael J Smith. He is survived by his wife, Destiny Smith; his two sons, Ethen Smith and Cedar (Taylor) Smith; his mother, Consuelo N Smith; his sisters: Micole Smith, Meghan (Sam) Gale, and Stephanie (Cameron Wagner) Smith; and four nephews and one niece. 

A memorial service for John will be held on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024 at 10:00am at Hilltop Baptist Church (2555 E 2nd St., Casper, WY).