Kurt Smith, 58, passed away, May 6, 2026, surrounded by love after a courageous and incredibly difficult battle with metastatic uveal melanoma that took him far too quickly.

Kurt was born on September 16, 1967, in Panguitch, Utah, to Wayne and Bernella Smith, who later divorced. He is survived by Ray and Bernella Brown, and Wayne and Sandra Smith.

Kurt was married to the love of his life, his true soulmate and adventure partner, Steph. Together, they built a life full of love, laughter, chaos, adventure, and unforgettable memories over nearly 19 years together.

Together, Kurt and Steph blended a family of six children that meant everything to them: Kalob (Lynzee), Nick (Kenzie), Madison (Dallas), Sadee (Colton), Kenzie (Weston), and Hayden (Jamie). They loved every minute of the beautiful life they built together, along with their giant German Shepherd puppy, Titan, who came into their lives at exactly the right time.

Kurt was also the proudest "Papa Kurt" to Weston, Ava, Justin, Boston, and Harper, along with bonus grandkids Kason and Gracie. Being Papa Kurt was one of the greatest joys of his life. He lit up every time the grandkids walked into the room, and they lit up just the same when they saw him.

Kurt was blessed with a large and complicated family tree, but what mattered most to him were the relationships he built throughout his life. He shared close bonds with many siblings, extended family members, and Steph's siblings, who loved him as one of their own.

Kurt spent nearly 40 years working in news, often joking that he started at 19 years old and would eventually find a "big kid job," but he loved the work so much he never left.

He spent several years at KTVX and most recently more than 25 years at KUTV, as Director of News Operations, where he became known not only for his incredible talent, but for the relationships he built along the way.

Kurt was an incredibly talented photojournalist, editor, and storyteller who had a gift for capturing both the biggest moments and the quiet human ones in between. Throughout his career, he mentored countless photographers, editors, and journalists who learned not only from his talent, but from his patience, humor, and willingness to help anyone who asked.

Kurt and Steph spent as much time as possible chasing adventure together. Whether they were in Moab, at their property in Fairview, camping, traveling, riding dirt bikes, or out exploring in the Jeep, Kurt's sense of adventure never slowed down. He was a self-proclaimed "YouTube mechanic" who could somehow fix or build just about anything. One of his proudest projects was completing a Hemi swap in his Jeep because, to Kurt, no challenge was too big to tackle. He was also a diehard New York Mets fan, even though they did their best to test his loyalty many seasons.

What truly made Kurt special was his heart. His kindness was unlike any other. He was the person who would immediately stop to help a stranger, answer the phone in the middle of the night, or drop whatever he was doing to help someone in need without hesitation. He made people feel safe, loved, and important just by being himself.

Kurt was loved beyond words, and the loss our family feels is immeasurable. But alongside the heartbreak is deep gratitude for the life he lived and the memories he created with the people he loved most. Kurt believed deeply that tomorrow is never promised, and he lived life to the fullest. He loved fully, showed up for people, and never stopped chasing adventure.

His tracks will forever be left on every dirt road, single track, garage project, and heart lucky enough to know him!

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible team at Huntsman Cancer Institute and Hospital. Words cannot express the compassion, kindness, and care they showed our family during the darkest days of our lives. Angels truly walk the halls of that hospital, and we felt their love and humanity in every moment we were there.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, May 16, at 11:00 a.m. at Lehi City Cemetery. Immediately following the service, family and friends are invited to stay and join us for a Celebration of Life as we honor and celebrate our hero. Because we expect a large turnout, guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit, visit, share stories, and celebrate the life of a man who meant so much to so many people.

As everyone who knew Kurt knows, he was never fancy. In true Kurt fashion, we invite everyone to come casual. Wear your Converse, your favorite Jeep shirt, or whatever makes you feel most like yourself and ready for an adventure.

We have been overwhelmed by the love and kindness shown to our family and know so many people want to help or honor Kurt in some way. Our ask is simple: go on an adventure, big or small, and share it using #LegendsLeaveTracks, or consider making a donation to Huntsman Cancer Institute and Hospital in Kurt's honor.