William Kyle Smith (aka: “Bill” and “Bucky”) was born on May 23, 1939, to Vernon E. and Joy (Kyle) Smith in Ketchikan, Alaska. He died on July 31, 2023, at 7:52 p.m. (PST) in Grays Harbor Hospital, Aberdeen, Grays County, Washington from prostate cancer and bladder complications.
Bill was the eldest of five siblings: Sherry Kay Payne, Jonathan Vern Smith, Thomas Elliott Smith and Kyle David Smith, all of whom were raised in Wrangell, Alaska. All later relocated to the “lower 49 states.” William graduated from Wrangell High School in 1957 and soon after enlisted in the U.S. Navy and embarked on a 30-plus years career in Guam, Hawaii, San Diego and Seattle, where he retired as a Senior Chief (E-8.) When Bill was stationed at Barber Point, Honolulu, Hawaii he met Merna Hattie Vasconcellos, and they married in 1966. Merna had a son, Donald “Keith” Campise and a daughter, Karen Lee Campise from a previous marriage and they later welcomed son William “Kyle” Smith Jr. while living in Hawaii. They soon moved to San Diego and added Kevin David Smith to their growing family. From there, duty called again and Seattle was their new home in the mid-1980s.
After Bill’s wife Merna died of cancer in 2001, he moved from Renton to Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington in 2003. As a good Navy man would, Bill purchased a condominium on the ocean’s shore. He soon acclimated to the area, making new friends at the Quinault Indian Casino. It was here where Bill met Mary Louise Irvine Patrick, marrying in 2007 and they began a warm and loving relationship. They dug clams, went out dining, enjoyed the movies and certainly the casino, where he played his favorite “Road Trip” with a ready, winning smile. Mary Smith became a force of nature, always finding something to repair, build, knit hats for chemo patients, and enjoying the many and various animals (many deer, some bear, cougar, eagles and hawks) frequenting their home in Oyehut. Later she enriched Bill’s quality of life by always being there and assuring him that he got the very best care he could have when his health diminished.
William Kyle Smith became the Patriarch and glue that kept the warmth and relationships together for many, many years in the extended Smith and Patrick families. It wouldn’t be the same if Bill didn’t have control of the TV remote for his love of baseball (Dodgers and Mariners), football (Seahawks and Huskies) and the Seattle Kraken hockey team. He loved reading his Western novels and watching his Western movies, but what he truly loved the most were his family and his friends.
Bill is survived by his wife Mary Patrick Smith and her sons Mark Alan Patrick, Lance Adam Patrick and Troy Arthur Patrick and their families; his son Keith Campise (wife Linda and their 4 kids, 5 grandchildren); his daughter Karen Lee Dunwell (husband Scott and their 2 kids, 4 grandchildren); his son Kyle Smith (wife Peggy and their 2 daughters, 1 grandchild due in January); and his son Kevin David Smith (wife Lucinda and their 3 kids, 1 grandchild.)
A memorial service will be planned later this year at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.
