Kenneth Casey Smith, 94, of Sweet Home died June 2, 2008.
He was born Sept. 6, 1913 in St. Paul, Minn., to Harry C. and Catharine (Over) Smith.
Mr. Smith was proud to be a Shriner and a charter member of the Sweet Home Elks Lodge. He served as Exalted Ruler from 1970 – 1971 and held continuous membership for 53 years.
He moved to California where he worked in the oil fields and co-owned a successful dry cleaning business in Seal Beach. There he met Martha Weems. They married July 5, 1946 and came to Oregon to settle and raise a family.
They settled in Sweet Home in 1946. He worked at Willamette Industries in Foster for 30 years and retired in December 1976. As a joke, in addition to the normal cake and gifts from fellow employees at his retirement celebration, Mr. Smith received a “pink slip” dated the day before he was to retire, telling him he had been fired for “poor work habits.”
After retiring, the Smiths spent many great years traveling to Arizona in the winters with their travel trailer as snowbirds. They spent most of the summers at Siltcoos Lake, fishing and boating. They truly got back every penny they spent on their travel trailer and boat.
Mr. Smith is survived by two daughters, Diane Verdugo of Julian, Calif. and Bobbi Bronstien of Peoria, Ariz.; son Ken Smith of Sweet Home; and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Smith, on July 30, 2005.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel handled the arrangements.