John Henry Smith, III, 67, passed away peacefully in his home on Oct. 10, 2017. John was born on Jan. 6, 1950, in Longview, Wash., oldest of four children, to Ila (Mulcair) and John Henry Smith, II. He grew up in Aberdeen, Wash., enjoyed chemistry and math and excelled in school, graduating from Grays Harbor College (Aberdeen), Western Washington University (Bellingham) and The Institute of Paper Science Technology (Appleton, Wis.). He joined Weyerhaeuser in 1974, and through advancement, John and his family had the opportunity to live in multiple locations over his career, including New Bern, N.C., Springfield, Ore., Everett, Wash., Longview, Wash. and Columbus, Miss. In 2005, he retired to Lost Lake in Shelton, Wash., with his wife, Lynda Mason Smith, where they built a lakeside home and were surrounded by his brothers, sister, parents and friends. John enjoyed working with his hands, tinkering with Ford Model A cars, reading, calling friends and family on the phone, telling (and repeating) jokes, and spending time with his beloved canine, Inky IV.
He is survived by his three children Wyatt (Jennifer) Smith of Lake Tapps, Wash., Kent (Jennifer) Smith of Weaverville, N.C., and Karen (Jeremy) Clay of Columbus, Miss.; two step-daughters Meredith Barone of Waterford, Conn. and Leslie (Michael) Sheehan of Deep River, Conn.; 11 grandchildren Ethan, Elliana, Caitlin, Lydia, Sara Kate, Caroline, Audrey, Olivia, Patrick, Stephanie and Madison; three siblings Barbara Meservey, Bill (Donna) Smith, and David Smith of Shelton, Wash.; and his parents John and Ila Smith of Shelton, Wash.; as well as many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lynda Mason Smith.
Family and friends are invited to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Longview, Wash. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, at 1 p.m., to honor and celebrate John’s life. Interment of ashes and service will immediately follow at Cowlitz Memorial Gardens in Kelso, Wash. Memorial donations can be made to the American Heart Association, Pacific Mountain Affiliate, 710 2nd Avenue, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98104.
