Stanley "Stan" Merritt Smith, Jr. passed away peacefully at the age of 69 on February 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Stan was born in Hammond, Indiana on February 27, 1955, to his parents Stanley Merritt Smith Sr. and Laverne Ruth Smith. He had a younger sister, Sue. The family eventually moved to Villa Park, CA, where Stan graduated from high school in 1973. He lived for many years in Anaheim Hills, CA before relocating to Bullhead City, AZ in 2021. He finally achieved his dream of living near the river! From a young age, Stan was musically talented and could learn to play any song by ear on the guitar, drums, or piano. As a teen he spent endless hours practicing "Wipe Out" on the drums until he had mastered it. He continued playing music throughout his life and was always surrounded by instruments, records, and good music. His favorites included Elvis, The Beatles, Stevie Ray Vaughn, rock-n-roll, and live music. Stan also loved to peruse antique stores and yard sales, collecting 1950s memorabilia. Another of Stan's passions was classic cars, and at age 16 he started rebuilding a Ford Model T in his parents' garage all by himself. He eventually got it running! Stan also excelled in making things - he created beautiful woodwork including furniture and even the cabinets in his parents' house. He was blessed to have such incredible artistic abilities and mechanical aptitude. Throughout his life he worked in jobs related to contracting and building, and managed his own business for many years: Smith Construction. In 1980 and 1985 Stan's two daughters, Jenny and Kirsten, were born. Their best memories together include going line dancing, seeing bands such as George Strait and The Beach Boys, Blockbuster movie nights with pizza, outings to air balloon shows, car shows, etc., and riding in the '56 Chevy. Stan got to make a final trip to visit both of his daughters and their families in 2024. This would not be complete without mentioning Stan's wicked sense of humor... he could always be counted upon to crack a joke and make everyone in the room laugh. He also had a deep love for Halloween, costume contests (he won awards for this), gathering with friends, and being out on the water. His favorite spots were the Colorado River and Lake Havasu. He owned numerous boats and jet skis over the years, and "floating" as he recently put it, was his happy place. To this end, Stan's daughters will be spreading his ashes in the Colorado River. Raise a toast to Stan the next time you are there! Stan is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Lynn James (San Luis Obispo, CA) and Kirsten Nicole Choate (Portland, OR), as well as his sister, Susan Leslie Boyer (Chico, CA), and their families. His family, friends, and neighbors will miss him dearly! Please leave any comments or stories below, so that others can share in these memories of Stan.