John Larry Smith passed away on Jan. 1, 2019 in Granite at the age of 70.
He was born on March 13, 1948 in Sheridan, Wyo. to John and Louise Beeler Smith.
John traveled extensively with his family throughout his childhood. As a young adult, he served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and received the Purple Heart.
After the war, he moved back to Yakima, Wash., where he met and married Diana Williams on Sept. 11, 1970 at the courthouse by the justice of the peace. They later moved around and initially settled in the Port Angeles, Wash. area, where he began his career as a diesel mechanic for Del-Hur Industries. He next lived in Spokane, Wash. for a short time before moving to Hermiston in the early 1990s. He retired from Del-Hur Industries after nearly 40 years of work in 2016.
John was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing (especially with his kids), going to archery shoots, making knives and doing carpentry work. He was a member of the Union Local #701, the NRA and the Eastern Oregon Miners and Prospectors.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Diana; children, Lora (Vern) Ressler of Bay City, Rebecca Smith of Hermiston, John (Debbie) Smith of Hermiston and Scott (BeAnn) Smith of Sherwood; grandchildren, Samantha, Jessica, Danielle, Zarah, Ryan, Nicholas and McKenna; great grandchildren, Brooklynn, Charlotte, Jackson, Hayden, Mara and Fiona; brothers, David, Duane and Keith; sisters, Nancy and Margaret; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Floyd and Clyde.
Viewing will be held on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Burns Mortuary Chapel, 685 W. Hermiston Ave.
A private family celebration will be held at a later time.
Family suggests memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
