Stanley L Smith

Stanley L. Smith was aged 79 when he died on March 14, 2026 in the presence of his wife, Nancy Darnell, and their dog, Parker. Stan was born November 28, 1946 in Roseburg, Oregon to parents Clarke and Ruth (Knigge) Smith. In addition to his wife, Stan leaves behind his daughters Kari Smith (Doug Hanke) and Katherine Darnell Smith (partner Jon Campos); his brother David Smith (Irene); and niece Stephanie and nephews Nathan and Mattie Smith.

Raised in Roseburg, Oregon, Stan lettered in tennis and took up what would prove to be a lifelong passion and hobby, fly-fishing, before graduating high school in 1965. In 1968 he married Beverly Clark and was a student at Oregon State University when his daughter Kari was born in 1969. He subsequently entered the Seminary of the West in Berkeley, California and worked as a groundskeeper and building manager to support his family while he studied. Stan spoke often of the effects of the anti-war protests and clashes with police that were a frequent occurrence in Berkeley at that time, events which strongly solidified his liberal politics and his opposition to the Vietnam war.

The next several years saw Stan and his family move to Colorado Springs, Fowler, Colorado, Minneapolis, Minnesota (where he finished his M. Div.), and finally to Denver. He was pastor at Berkeley Baptist Church and then became the youth minister at Calvary Baptist Church. It was here that he met and married Nancy Darnell, who volunteered with the youth group. In 1987, Stan and Nancy moved to Utah, where he led (and then co-led with Nancy) the First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City; their daughter Katherine was born later that year.

Eager to return to Colorado, Stan next took the position of head pastor at First Baptist Church of Boulder (also with Nancy as co-pastor). He finished his ministerial career at Panther Lake Baptist Church in Renton, Washington, retiring there in 2012. He and Nancy downsized and moved back to Denver in 2023. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Denver (FBCD) when he died. Stan loved old cars, woodworking, fly-fishing, and contributing his time and carpentry skills to Habitat for Humanity and other charities. He touched many lives over the course of his life and career, and is deeply missed.

A celebration of Stan’s life will be held on Saturday, March 28 at 1:00 pm at FBCD (1375 Grant Street, Denver), with a reception to follow. Stan requested that donations in his memory be made to FBCD or to Colorado Public Radio.