Jay Arden Smith, 84, of Vero Beach died Friday, April 27, 2012 at the Indian River Medical Center.

Mr. Smith was born November 23, 1927 in Oshkosh, WI. He had been a resident of Vero Beach since 1969, coming from Washington, DC.

He served as a Soldier for twenty-three years during both the Korea and Vietnam conflicts, and commanded the Army Security Agency's 81st Special Operations Unit in the Pacific and the 301st ASA Battalion from Ft. Bragg, NC, including the Dominican Republic Incursion. He retired from Army service as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Upon coming to Vero Beach, he established himself as a realtor and later real estate broker, and was active in 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 Tax Payers Association, and the Vero Beach Civic Association.

Survivors include his wife of fifty-three years, Anne Ulrica Smith, sons Jay Arden Smith, Jr. of Oviedo, FL and Jon Alan Smith of Ft. Pierce, FL; brothers Dean Smith of Appleton, WI and Dale Smith of Vero Beach; and grandson Jacob Andrew Smith of Vero Beach.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Veteran's Memorial Island Sanctuary Fund managed by the City of Vero Beach.

Services are private, with arrangements under the direction of Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach. On line condolences may be sent at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.