Jay Arden Smith, 84, died April 27, 2012, at Indian River Medical Center, Vero Beach.
He was born in Oshkosh, Wis., and lived in Vero Beach since 1969, coming from Washington, D.C.
Upon coming to Vero Beach, he established himself as a realtor and later real estate broker and was active in the local community, holding a variety of appointed and elected offices.
He was director of Indian River County’s Civil Defense office and was elected to the Vero Beach City Council several times over the course of three decades.
He served as mayor of Vero Beach for six terms of office.
After leaving the council, he served as chairman of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
He was active as a civic leader throughout his time in Vero Beach.
He was a commodore of the Vero Beach Yacht Club and a member of the Taxpayers Association and the Vero Beach Civic Association.
He served as a soldier for 23 years during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts and commanded the Army Security Agency’s 81st Special Operations Unit in the Pacific and the 301st ASA Battalion from Fort Bragg, N.C., including the Dominican Republic Incursion.
He retired from Army service as a lieutenant colonel.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Anne Ulrica Smith; sons, Jay Arden Smith Jr., of Oviedo and Jon Alan Smith, of Fort Pierce; brothers, Dean Smith, of Appleton, Wis., and Dale Smith, of Vero Beach; and one grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary Fund managed by the city of Vero Beach.
Services are private.
Arrangements are by Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach.
A guestbook is available at www.seawindsfh.com.
