Leo Lain Smith, 89, passed away peacefully at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, on 22 Nov 2016 as a result of injuries suffered from a heavy duty equipment accident that occurred in Haines, Alaska on 15 Nov 2016.
Leo was born to Lain Smith and Dorothy (Demaris) Smith on 21 Jan 1927, in Prineville. Oregon. Much of his early childhood, Leo was raised by his Uncle Floyd and Aunt Crystal James, in the McKay Creek area outside Prineville. He attended Allen Creek School early in his youth and went on to attend Crook County High School. Leo was an accomplished runner in high school, claiming to have held the Crook County High School outdoor mile record for a number of years. He was a proud veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theatre from 1945 to 1946.
In 1947, Leo married Naomi Jeane Booth in Reno, Nevada. He worked a variety of logging related jobs in Oregon in the late 1940's and early 1950's, and during that time he and Naomi had two children, Laverla Jeane and Gary Lain.
In the late 1950's, he operated a Carter Oil service station in Prineville, and in that same time-frame, he and Naomi were divorced. Leo married George Ann Riley, of Prineville, on 20 March 1960, in Nogales, Mexico. He and George Ann raised two children, Cynthia Ann and Andrew Allen, during their 56 years of marriage.
Leo always had a dream of moving to Alaska, and in 1663, he and George Ann moved their family from Prineville to Southeast Alaska, living in a multitude of locations in Southeast Alaska, until they arrived in Haines in 1966, and they resided there since.
In the late 1960's, he established Leo Smith Logging Company, which has been in operation since. Leo was an avid outdoorsman, and in Alaska, he found the fulfillment of his outdoor dreams. He loved fishing, trapping and huntnig, and spent many seasons doing them. He was actively involved in the Elks Lodge and the American Legion, as well as snowmobile clubs over the years. In recent years, Leo nurtured the development of his Christian spiritual life as a member of the Port Chilkoot Bible Church, in Haines.
He is survived by his wife, George Ann Smith, of Haines, Alaska; daughters, Laverla Young, of Grants Pass, Oregon, and Cynthia Bennett, of Craig, Alaska; son, Andrew Smith, of La Habra, California; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Leo was preceded in death by his father, Lain Smith; mother, Dorothy Fuller; stepfather, Wendell Fuller; brother, Gene Smith; and son, Gary Smith.
Leo lived his life large, and by his rules, some would say almost legendary. On the exterior, he was a true rugged Alaskan man, but that rugged exterior covered a soft and caring heart. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, but his memory will live on in their hearts.
Leo was born to Lain Smith and Dorothy (Demaris) Smith on 21 Jan 1927, in Prineville. Oregon. Much of his early childhood, Leo was raised by his Uncle Floyd and Aunt Crystal James, in the McKay Creek area outside Prineville. He attended Allen Creek School early in his youth and went on to attend Crook County High School. Leo was an accomplished runner in high school, claiming to have held the Crook County High School outdoor mile record for a number of years. He was a proud veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theatre from 1945 to 1946.
In 1947, Leo married Naomi Jeane Booth in Reno, Nevada. He worked a variety of logging related jobs in Oregon in the late 1940's and early 1950's, and during that time he and Naomi had two children, Laverla Jeane and Gary Lain.
In the late 1950's, he operated a Carter Oil service station in Prineville, and in that same time-frame, he and Naomi were divorced. Leo married George Ann Riley, of Prineville, on 20 March 1960, in Nogales, Mexico. He and George Ann raised two children, Cynthia Ann and Andrew Allen, during their 56 years of marriage.
Leo always had a dream of moving to Alaska, and in 1663, he and George Ann moved their family from Prineville to Southeast Alaska, living in a multitude of locations in Southeast Alaska, until they arrived in Haines in 1966, and they resided there since.
In the late 1960's, he established Leo Smith Logging Company, which has been in operation since. Leo was an avid outdoorsman, and in Alaska, he found the fulfillment of his outdoor dreams. He loved fishing, trapping and huntnig, and spent many seasons doing them. He was actively involved in the Elks Lodge and the American Legion, as well as snowmobile clubs over the years. In recent years, Leo nurtured the development of his Christian spiritual life as a member of the Port Chilkoot Bible Church, in Haines.
He is survived by his wife, George Ann Smith, of Haines, Alaska; daughters, Laverla Young, of Grants Pass, Oregon, and Cynthia Bennett, of Craig, Alaska; son, Andrew Smith, of La Habra, California; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Leo was preceded in death by his father, Lain Smith; mother, Dorothy Fuller; stepfather, Wendell Fuller; brother, Gene Smith; and son, Gary Smith.
Leo lived his life large, and by his rules, some would say almost legendary. On the exterior, he was a true rugged Alaskan man, but that rugged exterior covered a soft and caring heart. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, but his memory will live on in their hearts.
Leo Lain Smith, 89, passed away peacefully at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, on 22 Nov 2016 as a result of injuries suffered from a heavy duty equipment accident that occurred in Haines, Alaska on 15 Nov 2016.
Leo was born to Lain Smith and Dorothy (Demaris) Smith on 21 Jan 1927, in Prineville. Oregon. Much of his early childhood, Leo was raised by his Uncle Floyd and Aunt Crystal James, in the McKay Creek area outside Prineville. He attended Allen Creek School early in his youth and went on to attend Crook County High School. Leo was an accomplished runner in high school, claiming to have held the Crook County High School outdoor mile record for a number of years. He was a proud veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theatre from 1945 to 1946.
In 1947, Leo married Naomi Jeane Booth in Reno, Nevada. He worked a variety of logging related jobs in Oregon in the late 1940's and early 1950's, and during that time he and Naomi had two children, Laverla Jeane and Gary Lain.
In the late 1950's, he operated a Carter Oil service station in Prineville, and in that same time-frame, he and Naomi were divorced. Leo married George Ann Riley, of Prineville, on 20 March 1960, in Nogales, Mexico. He and George Ann raised two children, Cynthia Ann and Andrew Allen, during their 56 years of marriage.
Leo always had a dream of moving to Alaska, and in 1663, he and George Ann moved their family from Prineville to Southeast Alaska, living in a multitude of locations in Southeast Alaska, until they arrived in Haines in 1966, and they resided there since.
In the late 1960's, he established Leo Smith Logging Company, which has been in operation since. Leo was an avid outdoorsman, and in Alaska, he found the fulfillment of his outdoor dreams. He loved fishing, trapping and huntnig, and spent many seasons doing them. He was actively involved in the Elks Lodge and the American Legion, as well as snowmobile clubs over the years. In recent years, Leo nurtured the development of his Christian spiritual life as a member of the Port Chilkoot Bible Church, in Haines.
He is survived by his wife, George Ann Smith, of Haines, Alaska; daughters, Laverla Young, of Grants Pass, Oregon, and Cynthia Bennett, of Craig, Alaska; son, Andrew Smith, of La Habra, California; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Leo was preceded in death by his father, Lain Smith; mother, Dorothy Fuller; stepfather, Wendell Fuller; brother, Gene Smith; and son, Gary Smith.
Leo lived his life large, and by his rules, some would say almost legendary. On the exterior, he was a true rugged Alaskan man, but that rugged exterior covered a soft and caring heart. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, but his memory will live on in their hearts.
Leo was born to Lain Smith and Dorothy (Demaris) Smith on 21 Jan 1927, in Prineville. Oregon. Much of his early childhood, Leo was raised by his Uncle Floyd and Aunt Crystal James, in the McKay Creek area outside Prineville. He attended Allen Creek School early in his youth and went on to attend Crook County High School. Leo was an accomplished runner in high school, claiming to have held the Crook County High School outdoor mile record for a number of years. He was a proud veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theatre from 1945 to 1946.
In 1947, Leo married Naomi Jeane Booth in Reno, Nevada. He worked a variety of logging related jobs in Oregon in the late 1940's and early 1950's, and during that time he and Naomi had two children, Laverla Jeane and Gary Lain.
In the late 1950's, he operated a Carter Oil service station in Prineville, and in that same time-frame, he and Naomi were divorced. Leo married George Ann Riley, of Prineville, on 20 March 1960, in Nogales, Mexico. He and George Ann raised two children, Cynthia Ann and Andrew Allen, during their 56 years of marriage.
Leo always had a dream of moving to Alaska, and in 1663, he and George Ann moved their family from Prineville to Southeast Alaska, living in a multitude of locations in Southeast Alaska, until they arrived in Haines in 1966, and they resided there since.
In the late 1960's, he established Leo Smith Logging Company, which has been in operation since. Leo was an avid outdoorsman, and in Alaska, he found the fulfillment of his outdoor dreams. He loved fishing, trapping and huntnig, and spent many seasons doing them. He was actively involved in the Elks Lodge and the American Legion, as well as snowmobile clubs over the years. In recent years, Leo nurtured the development of his Christian spiritual life as a member of the Port Chilkoot Bible Church, in Haines.
He is survived by his wife, George Ann Smith, of Haines, Alaska; daughters, Laverla Young, of Grants Pass, Oregon, and Cynthia Bennett, of Craig, Alaska; son, Andrew Smith, of La Habra, California; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Leo was preceded in death by his father, Lain Smith; mother, Dorothy Fuller; stepfather, Wendell Fuller; brother, Gene Smith; and son, Gary Smith.
Leo lived his life large, and by his rules, some would say almost legendary. On the exterior, he was a true rugged Alaskan man, but that rugged exterior covered a soft and caring heart. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, but his memory will live on in their hearts.
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