Gary Lee Smith
September 13, 1940 — March 2, 2013
Gary Lee Smith was born on September 13, 1940 to Rensler and Vera (McHenry) Smith in Woodbine, Iowa. He was baptized at the First Christian Church in Glenwood, Iowa. He attended grade school in Woodbine and graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in Washington State.
He started working for local farmers when he was just thirteen years old and had many different jobs over the years. He was a milker at the Glenwood State farm for thirteen years. He was a welder for Boeing Shipyard and was a member of the Boilermakers. He worked at the cedar mill as a sawer until he got cedar asthma poisoning and was disabled in 1989.
On May 8, 1981, Gary was united in marriage to Reta Armstrong in Antacortis, Washington, and was blessed with two step-children. Gary loved the outdoors and looked forward to the family camping vacations with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He would tell them many stories that he would just make up especially for them. He loved hunting, fishing, farming, and gardening and when he was indoors, he would enjoy cooking.
Gary died on Saturday, March 2, 2013, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of seventy-two years, five months, and seventeen days. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Bonnie and an infant brother.
He is survived by his wife of thirty-one years Reta Smith of Harlan, Iowa; step-children Rick Parham and his wife Cherry of Harlan and Sherry Laray Irwin of Pacific Junction, Iowa; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister Sharon Atchley of Blain, Washington, brother Rensler Clayton Smith of Sedro Woodley, Washington; nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
He started working for local farmers when he was just thirteen years old and had many different jobs over the years. He was a milker at the Glenwood State farm for thirteen years. He was a welder for Boeing Shipyard and was a member of the Boilermakers. He worked at the cedar mill as a sawer until he got cedar asthma poisoning and was disabled in 1989.
On May 8, 1981, Gary was united in marriage to Reta Armstrong in Antacortis, Washington, and was blessed with two step-children. Gary loved the outdoors and looked forward to the family camping vacations with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He would tell them many stories that he would just make up especially for them. He loved hunting, fishing, farming, and gardening and when he was indoors, he would enjoy cooking.
Gary died on Saturday, March 2, 2013, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of seventy-two years, five months, and seventeen days. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Bonnie and an infant brother.
He is survived by his wife of thirty-one years Reta Smith of Harlan, Iowa; step-children Rick Parham and his wife Cherry of Harlan and Sherry Laray Irwin of Pacific Junction, Iowa; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister Sharon Atchley of Blain, Washington, brother Rensler Clayton Smith of Sedro Woodley, Washington; nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
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