K. Blair Smith, 88, of Sweet Home, Oregon died Saturday, May 10, 2014. He was born in Sweet Home to Everett V. and Louise M. (Geil) Smith. He was delivered at the family home on Pleasant Valley Road by a doctor who traveled to Sweet Home from Lebanon in a horse-drawn buggy.

He was Senior Class President at Sweet Home High School, but left during the middle of that senior year to work as a logger to help support family while his older brother “Bud” fought in the war overseas. He completed graduation requirements shortly after his two years in the Navy.

Blair served in the United States Navy as a Coxwain. He served on a ship that re-supplied fighting vessels in the South Pacific Ocean with food and ammunition during the end of World War II. He was Honorably Discharged. Blair never fired a shot at the enemy from the small canon he manned.

He lived in Sweet Home his entire life except for six months when he lived in Bandon and his time in the Navy.

Blair worked in logging until 1960 working at Geils Mill on 18th for about six months. During his time in the timber industry, he served as foreman and superintendent. He then managed the Sweet Home Cemetery District from 1961 to 1988 when he retired.

He served two terms as Mayor and on the Sweet Home City Council from 1966 to1978. He was a volunteer for the Sweet Home Fire Department from 1957 to 1988. Blair was a Senior First Citizen for Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce in 1971. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, VFW and American Legion. He was a member of BPOE 1972 for 40 years.

Blair hunted and fished his entire life. He even hunted last year in 2013. He last fished in 2012, but he never caught an Oregon Steelhead. He died just five days before being able to use his new card and welcome Bi-Mart to his beloved Sweet Home.

He and his wife Beaulah “Ditty” had five sons and two daughters. He made sure his kids learned to love the Lord and learn the Bible at the Sweet Home Evangelical Church. He supported his boys in football, basketball, baseball, and wrestling through Sweet Home Husky programs with district and state honors. Blair was a four sport Husky Letterman himself.

Blair is survived by: Donna Ispas Smith; sons Dennis D., Thomas V., Kelly D., and Harland and his wife Shirley Smith; daughters Patricia A. and her husband Ray Eder and Dixie C. and her husband Charlie Clark; sister Gaye and husband Carl Qualley; 21 grandchildren; and 25 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by: his wife, Beaulah Colleen “Ditty,” in 2001; son Kirk Smith in 2011; granddaughter Christine Smith in 2014; brothers Everett (Budd) and Charles K. “Chuck” Smith; sisters Meridith Carter, Anna Jeannette Fitzgerald, and Alice Jean Mathers.

A memorial service will be at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 20, at Sweet Home Evangelical Church.

Memorial contributions can be made in Blair’s name to: Sweet Home Alumni Foundation; Chuck Smith Scholarship; P.O. Box 83; Sweet Home, Oregon 97386.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.