Tony Smith

Tony went home to be with the Lord March 25, 2019 after a courageous fight to recover from an attack on his central nervous system associated with a rare autoimmune disorder. We were blessed with an extra year with Tony when he overcame the odds by returning home in March of 2018. Even though he battled severe fatigue, endured constant medical procedures, and suffered from short term memory issues, Tony’s faith, positive and optimistic attitude and hope never wavered. His only concerns centered around the well-being of his family and the impact his health had on others.

Born on February 7, 1956 in Bryan, Texas to parents Branson and Catherine Smith, he is survived by his mother, Catherine, his wife Saundra of 25 years and his children Dustin, Shealyn and Keaton. Son of an Air Force First Sergeant, Tony moved often throughout his childhood, living in Harlingen, Texas; Chandler, Arizona; Cheyenne, Wyoming; and eventually Tucson, Arizona in 1966. Tony’s first jobs were working at the movie theater on base, Lucky Wishbone and Florsheim Shoes at El Con Mall. We will treasure all of Tony’s funny stories and memories of his early employment experiences. He graduated from Palo Verde High School in 1974 and earned his BS degree in Management from the University of Arizona in 1978.

Tony’s career began in Tucson at Shape West and National Semiconductor where he developed lifelong friendships. In 1993, Tony joined Insight Enterprises in Tempe overseeing its distribution operations. From 2001 to 2003, Tony served as President of Insight. After two years as President of a subsidiary company, Direct Alliance Corporation, in 2005, Tony decided to return to Tucson full time with his family. He formed PresCo Consulting for small businesses after taking time to vacation and spend much needed time with his family. In 2010, he started Regis Registration Systems designing software for the traffic school industry.

A loyal and passionate U of A fan, Tony loved attending any and every sporting event, especially football and basketball games. Part of Saundra’s wedding vows contained her conversion from a Sun Devil to a Wild Cat! To his daughter’s horror, he proudly led the fight song outside of Bear Down Gym at her college orientation. His loyalty extended beyond his alma mater, to his family, friends, and acquaintances. There was no such thing as a stranger to Tony. He called everyone his friend and treated them as such. He had a servant’s heart and always placed others before himself. Tony instilled in his children the importance of integrity, acknowledging their blessings, and helping others who are less fortunate.

After spending most of his life in Tucson, Tony developed a fondness and sentimental attachment for certain restaurants: Lucky Wishbone, Eegee’s and Robert’s Restaurant. A bribe that involved a lemon Eegee or a Robert’s cinnamon roll was always successful. He has personally led to the success of these restaurants by asking everyone he meets if they know of these Tucson treasures. His hobbies revolved around cars and golf, and his favorite places to vacation were Tahoe and San Diego.

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Tony served as a Deacon and an Elder at Catalina Foothills Church. He felt led to use his administrative gifts to serve the church. He loved his Lord above all and was devoted to being in the Word daily. Not even his illness could keep him from the scriptures. He leaves for his children a well-read and annotated Bible. Tony shared that it was the peace, comfort and hope he gained from scripture that gave him the strength to face his illness with a thankful and happy heart. He had no fear.

Thank you for giving of your time to join us in celebrating the life of a good man, devoted husband, loving father, caring son and trusted friend. He considered you all his best friends and family and as such, he will be saving a place for you.