Damon B. Smith Obituary (1926

Damon B Smith, 86, was born Aug. 5, 1926 in Paola, Kansas to Lester and Thelma Smith. The first born of three, he grew up in Kansas. He graduated from Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas. He played trumpet in his high school marching band and enjoyed track and football. He enlisted in the Navy right after Pearl Harbor but had to turn 18 before he could join. He was sent to Farragut, Idaho for basic training and then to Tacoma WA and San Diego CA where he became a radar man on a minesweeper in the Pacific Theater. His crew even finished building their own boat at the Tacoma shipyards. After his discharge he returned to Kansas and attended Kansas City Jr. College for one year. His family then moved to Selah WA and purchased an apple orchard. Damon worked with his Dad and attended YVCC for a year and received his AA in electrical engineering. He then enrolled at WSU (WSC then) graduating in 1953 with a degree in agricultural economics. He met Lu Ault at college and they were married July 19, 1953 at the Presbyterian Church in Walla Walla. In 1956 Damon and Lu purchased an apple and pear orchard in Selah. Over the years Damon raised fruit and nut trees and blue spruce evergreens. At one time he has as many as 300 hogs. He was a journeyman pipe fitter at Cascade Natural Gas for nine years and later owned his own business DBS Construction and ran piping into houses when the Gas Company quit doing their own installing. The Lord blessed Damon and Lu with two daughters; Dawn Adele in 1959 and Heather Dee in 1963. Damon and Lu were baptized, and joined First Presbyterian Church on Maundy/Thursday 1963. They were Deacons for several years. Damon was very good at hospital calling. He was appointed Sanctuary Guild Chairman, and for 25 years he provided the church with a huge Christmas tree in the Sanctuary or the Garden room. He also gave Christmas trees to the Union Gospel Mission. For two years he provided a tree for the Millennium Plaza in Yakima. Damon loved the great outdoors and created many memories of camping, fishing, horseback riding, and hunting with his family. He enjoyed writing and prior to his passing completed a book of his memories. He had a great sense of humor and loved to make people smile. He was a history buff and could tell many stories about the Pacific Northwest Indians. His greatest love was his family which he cherished. Damon was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Thelma Smith, and many aunts and uncles here, and in Kansas. He is survived by his wife Lu of almost 60 year of Selah, daughter Dawn(Michael) Shepherd of Selah, and Heather(Steve) Hein of Yakima, seven grandchildren, Dustin (Chelan) Shepherd, Logan (Nina) Shepherd, Adele (Mike) pomerenke, Lisa Shepherd, Nick Hein, Shelby Hein and Samantha Hein; 2 great-great-grandchildren Stephen and Justin; also brother Merle(Dorothy) Smith of Selah, sister Brenda(Paul) Norris of Issaquah, sister in law Ora Lee and David Kapp of Corvallis, OR. and many dear nieces and nephews and cousins. The family wishes to thank Landmark Care Facility and staff, for their gentle care and kindness since Dec.24, 2012. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 6:00 pm Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at Brookside Funeral Home, 500 W. Prospect PL. in Moxee. Military honors will be at the Graveside Service at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Feb 15, 2013 at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 1:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church at 8th and Yakima Avenue. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Union Gospel Mission, Camp Ghormley, or Local Parkinson's Group, or a Charity of your choice, c/o Brookside Funeral Home & Crematory, PO Box 9907, Yakima, WA 98909. SERVICES Funeral service Friday, February 15, 2013