Smith, Gary Lee (1940 – 2013)

SMITH, PARHAM, IRWIN, ATCHLEY, MCHENRY

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 9/7/2013 at 19:05:49

Name of deceased: Gary Lee Smith

Aged: 72 yrs, 5 mo, 17 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: Sep. 13, 1940, Woodbine, IA

Died: March 2, 2013, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, IA

Funeral services: Wednesday, March 6, 2013, Pauley Jones Funeral Home, Harlan, IA. Pastor Donna Ewert officiated.

Survived by: Wife of 31 years, Reta Smith of Harlan, IA; step-children, Rick Parham (spouse, Cherry) of Harlan, IA and Sherry Laray Irwin of Pacific Junction, IA; 7 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; sister, Sharon Atchley of Blain, WA; brother, Rensler Clayton Smith of Sedro Woodley, WA; nieces; nephews; other family members and many friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Rensler and Vera (nee McHenry) Smith; sister, Bonnie; infant brother

Education: attended grade school in Woodbine, IA and graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in Washington State

Religious affiliation: baptized at the First Christian Church in Glenwood, IA

Military service: n/a

Marriage: Reta Armstrong; May 8, 1981; Anacortes, WA

Employment: He started working for local Iowa farmers when he was just 13 years old, and had many different jobs over the years. He was a milker at the Glenwood State farm for 13 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.

Hobbies/Interests: 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 enjoyed cooking.

Sources: ancestry.com, pauleyjones.com