Colin Michael Smith

Colin Smith, our beautiful son, brother, brother-in-law, nephew, cousin, and friend passed away at age 32 on July 2, 2023, in Portland, Oregon, while selflessly defending a friend. Words cannot express the grief that Colin’s family and friends feel at his passing.

Colin was born to Julia Lee Balli Smith and Michael Lynn Smith on August 17, 1990, in California. Ten days after his birth, he suffered cardiac arrest due to a birth defect called a diaphragm hernia. He was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery.

Colin was raised both in California and in Utah. He graduated from Skyline High School in Salt Lake City in 2008 and developed friendships that have lasted to this day. Everyone who knew Colin liked him. Everyone felt comfortable approaching him and sharing their highs and lows with him because he always listened to them without judgment. He was a caretaker and a protector. Colin did not think that life owed him anything and he worked hard at everything he did. He was one of a kind! If there were more Colin Smiths, the world would be more peaceful and loving.

Colin lived in Portland, Oregon, for the last six years where he developed great friendships. He was able to hone his skills in the restaurant business. He loved to cook (thanks to his Mom) and worked at Ox Restaurant at the time of his passing. Colin was full of love and kindness and understood the value of life. He loved spending time with his sister, Dani, and his mother, Julie. Everything he did was done with a lot of heart and feeling for others. He enjoyed simplicity, the outdoors, and had a soft spot for animals. He loved his cat, Smokey, and called himself a “cat Dad.” They were a great pair.

The outpouring of love from so many of Colin’s friends is greatly appreciated and will always be remembered. Many thanks to his employers, Gabrielle and Greg Denton, and colleagues at Ox Restaurant for their amazing support.

Colin’s family and friends will continue his legacy of acceptance and love by performing acts of service for others. He has shown us the way and we will now honor him by making life a little easier for those around us. In lieu of flowers, we invite everyone to honor Colin by carrying on his legacy of kindness and love for others.

Colin is survived by his mother, Julie (Salt Lake City), his father, Mike (Colorado), and his sister, Dani and George Adam Holden (Cornwall, England). He is also survived by his aunts and uncles, Allyson and Bruce McDonough (Salt Lake City), Robyn and Ron Axtell (Salt Lake City), Rick and Robyn Balli (Denver), Bryan and Jill Balli (Salt Lake City), and many cousins who have always said that he was the “nicest one of all.” He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Frederick Karl and Bodell Jensen Balli.

There will be two celebrations in remembrance of Colin’s life: Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at Ox Restaurant by invitation, and then on Sunday, July 16, 2023, from 4-7 p.m. at Camp Tracy Lodge, 3901 Millcreek Canyon Rd., Salt Lake City, UT 84109. (Please park at gates 4 and 5.) A memorial service begins at 4:15 p.m. If you would like to share memories or photos, please go to colinsmithmemorial.org. Any additional details will be posted on this website.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.skylinememorialgardens.com for the Smith family.