James Deward Smith was born 4 October 1925 in Henriville, Garfield County, Utah, the second son and ninth child of James Edward Smith Jr. and Nellie Elizabeth Chynoweth.

He attended schools in Henrieville and Tropic. He served in the US Navy. Deward married Claudia ReVon Sudweeks, 21 May 1949 in Freedonia, Coconino County, Arizona. This marriage was later solemnized in the St. George Temple, 26 June 1958. ReVon is the daughter of Claud Sudweeks and Emma Jane Allen. ReVon was born 2 June 1930 in Tropic, Garfield County, Utah.

Deward and ReVon spent the first year of their marriage in Southern Utah. They moved to Babbitt, Mineral County, Nevada on 21 August 1950, where Deward accepted employment at the Naval Ammunition Depot know as the largest ammunition depot in the US Deward worked as a mechanic and heavy duty truck operator. He retired in October 1978. He currently is employed as a security officer, at that same base.

To their marriage three girls and three boys were born. Deward currently has 17 grandchildren and 2 great Grandchildren.