SMITH
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of John Robert (Jack) Smith.
Jack was born in Calgary, Alberta, June 22, 1946, to Marion Zuffa (Smith). He was adopted and raised by Emily Elizabeth (Bess) and Lemert Smith in Fernie, BC, where he met and married Carol Shrumm in 1970. Together they raised son Shawn and daughter Stacey. After working for Dawson Construction and as a first aid attendant for the underground mines, he found his niche in accounting while working for the local Elk Valley Mining companies in Michel, Elkford and Corbin. In his spare time, he ran a hobby farm in Hosmer raising sheep, cattle and farming the land. Before leaving the area he worked for the local school district and then McDonald Ranch and Lumber. Deciding he wasn’t ready for retirement, Jack worked at Home Depot in Cranbrook, BC until he moved to Creston, where he was ready to formally retire and become involved as a community volunteer.
Family was of utmost importance to Jack. His proudest moments were the births of his son, daughter and then his grandchildren. Jack spent many hours researching anything and everything on the internet, he was the ‘go to guy’ when you needed information or assistance of any kind. Jack took his responsibility as Treasurer of the Creston Valley Blossom Festival Association very seriously and was looking forward to being an integral part of the 2016 – 75th Diamond Anniversary Festival celebrations. It will not be easy to find someone to fill the void that he leaves.
Jack was predeceased by his mothers Marion and Bess, father Lemert, sister June Dokken, brother Rodney Smith, uncle Dave Dryden and nephew Jack (Butch) Clarke. He will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by those who survive him, his partner Bev Caldwell, son Shawn (YoungJoo) Smith, daughter Stacey (Franco) Portincasa, Carol Smith, stepchildren Steve (Rachel) Cox, Ken Cox, Darren (Tamara) Cox and Trevor Caldwell; grandchildren Jonathan, Darius, Ohnyou, Parker, Phoenix, Raelyn, Lane, Greyson and Maverick; and sister Francis Clarke, along with many nieces and nephews.
A private family memorial will be held in the Spring of 2016. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to the East Kootenay Foundation for Health, Intensive Care Unit, 13 – 24th Avenue North, Cranbrook, BC V1C 3H9, or online at www.ekfh.ca in memory of John Robert (Jack) Smith.
Memories & condolences shared at www.cherishedmemoriesfs.com Arrangements entrusted to Cherished Memories Funeral Services Ltd.