David C. "Snuffy" Smith

September 21, 1938 - July 17, 2012 David C. “Snuffy” Smith passed away Tuesday, July 17. Dave was a musician, mechanic, and an active member of the Thornton Fraternal Order of Eagles where he loved watching sports with his great friends. Snuffy was born in Santa Monica, California, to Clair Albert and Laura Lee McClure Smith. He began his professional music career in the late 50's when he briefly toured on bass with The Champs (“Tequila”) at the end of 1959 into early 1960. He also worked with Jimmy Rodgers around 1966, and toured with the Tijuana Brass. In 1967 he did the vocal for “Going to the Dance” by the Demons which got play on American Bandstand--a great song, but as he told his adoring sons, a little late for the music scene of the late 60's. Once fatherhood set in he went to work as a vehicle mechanic starting in California and eventually living in South Florida. After moving to Denver, he briefly owned his own mobile tool franchise, and eventually went to work at Yellow Cab of Denver, where he was still working hard at the time of his passing. Dave is survived by his two sons, Colonel Russell Smith of Ramstein Air Base, Germany and David R. Smith of Westminster, Colorado, and was “Grandpa Smith” to eight grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Esther Smith of Everett, Washington and Rachel Beard of Longview, Texas. Interment will be at Ft Logan National Cemetery at 11:15, July 26th with a memorial service at the Thornton Eagles (8651 Huron St. Thornton, CO 80260) at 1:00 PM In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your favorite charity.