Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2019)
2A | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019 | SIUSLAW NEWS OBITUARIES SMITH—Cap. Bradford Donald Smith, USNR, passed away peacefully at home Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, af- ter a courageous 18-year battle with cardiac disease. His wife Stephanie, and Hospice Nurse John Stein- man, were by his side. Brad was born in Denver, Colo. on May 17, 1940, to Irene Wiggins Smith and Har- old Smith. Brad’s dad o w n e d newspapers and the fam- ily relocated often. Brad lived his Brad Smith high school years in Blackfoot, Idaho, graduating from Blackfoot High School. After graduation, Senator Frank Church, (known as the Environmental Senator from Idaho) selected Brad to enter the The United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. In 1962, just prior to graduation from The Naval Academy, Brad was selected by Admi- ral Hyman G. Rickover, the “Father of the Nuclear Navy,” to join the Navy’s nuclear op- erations and attend Nuclear Power School, then serving for nine years on nuclear sub- marines. Brad joined the Navy Re- serves in 1971, serving 20 years. He also completed a Harvard University MBA in 1973. Brad served as a Nation- al Maritime Historical Society Board of Trustee. Brad loved sea history and supported ed- ucation of students on the val- ue of the sea and its story. Brad is retired from Equita- ble Life Assurance Society. Though he had many ac- complishments, Brad enter- tained family and friends with his quick wit and clever sense of humor. Brad had a special place in his heart for Brandy, the little abused Cocker Span- iel he rescued and restored to good health and peace. They were a love duo. Surviving are his wife, Stephanie Begley-Smith; from his first marriage a de- voted son, Robert Bradford Smith; brothers: Spencer Smith (Cherri) and Barry Smith (Judy); niece Natalie Smith and nephews Toby and Adam Smith (Chelsea); loving stepchildren Mary Patricia McGovern, Frank J. Cuccia (Kathy) and Cathryn Mary Northen (Chris); and five step-grandchildren: Joseph Patrick, Robert James, Sarah Elizabeth (Travis), Holly Ma- rie and Shannon Eileen. The family would like to thank Oregon Health and Science University Cardiolo- gy Congestive Heart Failure Team; the OSHU Personal Care Physicians Internist and OHSU Anti Coagulant Clinic for providing medical excel- lence. We are also very grateful to the Providence Newberg Hos- pice Team for their dedication and assistance by extending loving and invaluable comfort care and medical advice for Brad’s end of life. Providence Hospital Hos- pice chose Brad to be the Vet- eran of the Month, and held a party in his home on Sept. 20, 2019. Attending was the coordinator of the Band of Brothers, friends, Providence hospice nurses, social work- er, a photographer and re- porter, noting the event, and Acting Executive Director of Brookdale / Hillside, Stacey Trunecek. Also, the Vietnam Motor- cycle Riders presented Brad with a Challenge Coin and Certificate. If you wish, donations in Brad’s name can be made to either of these institutions. Plans for a celebration of life at St. James Catholic Church, McMinnville, Ore., will be announced. Arrangements are being made for Brad’s interment at the Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium, Annapo- lis, Md. JONES—“My Father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived and let me watch him do it.” —Clarence Budington Kelland Larry Bruce Jones, born March 20, 1949, passed Oct. 2, 2019, surrounded by his im- mediate family. Larry was the youngest of four siblings, born to Bruce and Lucille Jones of Eugene, Ore. After his birth, the fam- ily moved to Florence where he was raised. Following high school he took some college courses, then decided instead to enlist in the U.S. Air Force. While stationed at Travis Air Force Base he met Sherry, his devoted wife of 49 years. Their story started at the flip of a coin to determine whether Larry or his friend would ask to dance with Sherry. Larry won and after a few months of dating they were engaged. They moved to An- chorage, Alaska, where they married and welcomed their first child, Mi- chael. A f t e r serving four Larry Jones years in the Air Force, he moved his young family back to Oregon, where he took an apprentice lineman position in Reed- sport, and had two more chil- dren: Jeffrey and Shauna. From Reedsport he trans- ferred to Newport and even- tually worked his way back to Florence, where he’d always wanted to live. He purchased the family farm allowing his aging parents time to travel to Yuma, Ariz., for the win- ter. Larry began the long, ar- duous task of taking an old homestead, built in 1914, and modernizing it to today’s stan- dards. There was rarely a task he came up against he couldn’t handle. He had skills in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and was a gifted mechanic, who en- joyed fixing and maintaining old farm and logging equip- ment. He enjoyed milling his own lumber for projects on the farm. He did all of this while working 35 years as a journeyman lineman for Cen- tral Lincoln PUD. Larry was a dedicated line- man and often worked long days and nights during storm events making sure everyone’s lights were turned on before the crew went home. As a father, he taught hard work, discipline and a love of the outdoors; camping, fish- ing, hunting, and spending time with family made his life complete. There was no slowing down for him. As he aged he hit ev- ery challenge with all he had; enduring double knee surgery and a hip replacement. Larry was a man who put family first and never avoided hard work. If Larry was your friend you knew he could be counted on. He leaves the love of his life, Sherry; and his adult children, their spouses and grandchil- dren; Mike Jones with Jaeden, Timothy, Nathanial and Chance; Jeff and Amber Jones with Colton and Shauna; and Matt Iseri with Mattie, Alice and Kisa, all heartbroken at his passing. The grandkids liked to say his bark was worse than his bite. His nephew, Jack Mobley, held a special place in Larry’s heart, as did his late brother- in-law Donald Hogan. His loving sisters, Loraine Hogan and Gail Gohn, survive him as siblings while his oldest sister, Carol Mobley and her husband Benjamin, are wait- ing on the other side with his beloved Mother and Father. We will celebrate Larry’s life on Sunday, Oct. 13, at Pier Pointe Inn in Florence, Ore., beginning at 1 p.m. All of his family and friends are wel- come to join us in celebrating 70 years this man walked be- side us. He will be missed more than words could ever express. Burns’s Riverside Chapel Florence Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Dunes Memorial Chapel serving Florence and the surrounding area “ Our Family, Serving Your Family” Burial & Cremation Service • Onsite Crematory Columnbarium Spaces • Pre-need Planning Serving Lane, Douglas and Coos County Dunes Memorial Chapel 2300 Frontage Road, Reedsport, Oregon 97467 • 541-271-2822 Highest in customer satisfaction with retail banking in the Northwest.* bannerbank.com *For J.D. Power 2019 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards bring your dreams! discover ideas, inspiration & experts fea Fri. 5-9pm Sat. 10am-8pm g n i r tu Sun. 10am-5pm Lawrence Recliner from La-Z-Boy Furniture of Eugene Everdure Furnace BBQ Grill from Emerald Pool & Patio Corsicana Queen Mattress Set from The Mattress Company Striker Country Wood Stove from Emerald Hearth, Spa & Patio Seminar Schedules & Exhibitors Online: Water Safety Tips for Children PRODUCTIONS
