Gerald O. Smith, 91

Gerald Oliver Perry Smith, a long-time Grangeville treasure, died of bronchial cancer Saturday at the Syringa Hospital in Grangeville. He was 91.

He worked for Bryan Cash at Prairie Land and Timber as a dozer operator.
He retired in 1996 at the age of 80.

The son of William Barnabus Canady and Clara Adaleine Smith, Gerald was born January 14, 1916 at Carlton, Washington.

He graduated from High School in Winthrop, Washington in 1934. He married Clara Catherine Smith November 20, 1936, at Wenatchee, Washington, and the couple moved to White Bird in 1952. He worked for Lou Walker as a heave equipment operator.

Two years later, they moved to Grangeville, where he worked for IdaPine as a dozer operator. He eventually went to work for Robinette Logging in Kooskia and then began work for Prairie Land and Timber. The “Grand Old Paleantologist” as was invented out of his initials G.O.P. Smith, was responsible for the discovery of the Woolly Mammoth remains at Tolo Lake, while he was working for Mr. Cash.

He enjoyed gardening, grandchildren and a good stiff drink. He was a faithful reader of the Farmers Almanac, enjoyed a good game of cribbage and in his later years his local friends at the Establishment became his life and leisure.

Survivors include his brothers and sisters, Cecil Dean Smith “Snuffy” of Whitebird, Glenda McHaffey, Verleigh Schacktsnieder, Joe Smith and Laverne Moyer all of Washington; two sons, Gerald Gwynn Smith of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and Daniel Smith of Santa Rosa, California; a daughter, Elizabeth Payton of Lewiston; nine grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Clara Catherine Smith; three brothers and one sister.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 8, 2007 at the Blackmer Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Prairie View Cemetery. The service will be a joint effort of grandchildren and great-grandchildren in celebration of his life.

The family suggests memorials be sent to the American Cancer Society. Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.