Richard Smith

December 31st, 1927 - August 17th, 2021

Biography


On August 17, 2021, F. Richard "Dick" Smith passed from this life to the next, passing away from natural causes in Grants Pass, Oregon. Dick was born in Reno, NV on December 31, 1927 to Roy R. and Marie E. (Moggie) Smith. He grew up in Salt Lake City where he developed his skill as a skier and in high school served as the youngest member of the ski patrol.


The family moved to Sacramento where he attended college, married and had two daughters. He relocated to Redding in the late 50s where he built and opened Redding’s first pizza parlor, The Longhorn. He was extremely active in little theater, both as an actor and director. At one time he had his own radio show, "Poor Richard's Almanac" where he interviewed popular Dan Blocker, "Hoss" on "Bonanza".


After a divorce he returned to Sacramento and embarked on his career as Senior Special Investigator in the Weights and Measures Department for the State of California. He met his second wife, Carol, at a Parents Without Partners dance. Dick could cut rug! He moved to Hugo, Oregon in 1997 where he remarried his second wife, Carol.


Dick was a Renaissance man. A rugged outdoorsman, enjoying fly fishing and hunting as well as attending live theater and enjoying various genres of music. From Bach to Big Band to Boogie. He played a mean self-taught boogie on the piano as well as playing percussion on anything he could get his hands on. Particularly bongos. He could be ornery and had a sarcastic sense of humor that went along with his practical jokes. Dick loved words and often wrote letters to the editor of the local newspaper, arguing his point of view eloquently. He also put his hand to writing poetry.


For almost 60 years, heaven for Dick was his land in the Siskiyou mountains, ‘The Ranch’ as he called it, where he and his father built a cabin that has stood the test of time. He could be found there on all holidays and any spare time, thinning Silver Tip Christmas trees, chopping wood, spraying Ribes, shooting and enjoying the sounds of silence. Sitting on his stump in the evenings, facing the sunset, highball in hand, he would commune with God. This was his happy place and will be his final resting place, spread among the trees in the land he loved so well. He is pre-deceased by both parents and his brother Robert Smith.


He is survived by his widow Carol and his daughters, Cindy Griswold, Janine Joi [Steve P.] Grandson John Barrett, [Almie] and granddaughter, Sabrina Griswold.

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About

Name Richard Smith
Date of Birth December 31st, 1927
Date of Death August 17th, 2021
Home Town Reno, NV, US 
Other City Grants Pass, OR, US 
Interests Fishing. Hunting, shooting
Favourite Saying "As Papa would say, 'So mote it be'."
Milestone

Milestones

1952 1st daughter born
1953 2nd daughter born
1962 - 1996 Christmas tree grower/seller, Peso Palo
1974 Grandson born
1986 - 1996 Senior investigator, State of California
1987 Granddaughter born

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Debby published a tribute .

One of thing I remember about about my Uncle is how he cared for his parents. He made it possible for Papa to enjoy the cabin and the Christmas tree farm long after my grandfather could have done it on his own. He looked after Moggie for years before her death. I always remember laughing with him on the hot Sacramento summers when I visited her. Then there was also the weird Christmas gifts he and my father would exchange.
Maybe, best of all was when he wore a beautiful blue sport coat with the wildest lining I'd even seen. He took Moggie and me to a Chinese restaurant for an amazing dinner.
i remember him with smiles and laughter.

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Janine Joi published a tribute .

I am the second daughter. I am just like him in the good stuff. He was an innovative Dad, full of work and fun things to do. He was entrepreneurial to the nth degree. He could fix _anything_. I learned a lot from him & I'm grateful I had an adventurous, avant garde Dad.

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Stephen Phariss published a tribute .

I remember seeing Richard in his element, that being the cabin. He would be puttering around with the trees or doing repairs. He truly loved being there.

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Stephen Phariss published a comment .

I knew Richard as a hard working man who truly loved being at the cabin. He had a good sense of humor and loved practical jokes. He was quick with good advice and I always had a good report with him.
I remember one particular day at the cabin, he made sourdough Pancakes and we stood around the Wood stove talking about the history of the cabin.

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