Services for Grant Edgar Smith, a longtime resident, will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, at the Salvation Army. A graveside service at Sitka National Cemetery will be held immediately afterward, with a celebration of life at 3 p.m. at the Sitka Moose Lodge, upstairs in the family center.
Grant died in Sitka Sept. 3, at the age of 71.
Grant Edgar Smith, 71
He was born Jan. 31, 1947, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He moved to Sitka on Oct. 18, 1963, and has resided here ever since.
He held many jobs here, at Sitka Cold Storage, the cannery, and Alaska Pulp Corp. He was a cab driver, a janitor, a U.S. Forest Service employee, and worked for the city Electrical Department and Sitka Tribe of Alaska.
He served in the U.S. Army from Oct. 15, 1967, to May 21, 1969.
On Friday, July 13, 1979, he and Sabrina Wrenn were married in St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church.
Grant Smith, a loving husband, father, friend, grandfather, and great-grandfather, was a kind-hearted, gentle, caring and loving soul and most of all a generous man. He always had an open door for his family, friends and the many adopted children he acquired over many years.
He was known to the softball community as “DAD,” as he was always there for all of the players, taking care of them by having food and water to share, making sure everyone ate, stayed hydrated, played hard and, most of all, had fun while playing, as he filled everyone full of laughter with his stories and his keen sense of humor.
He loved bowling, fishing, watching family play softball, volunteering for many different organizations – including the American Legion, Moose Lodge and the Salvation Army – and spending time with family and friends.
Preceding Grant in death were his parents, Bernard and Clara Smith, and his brother Bill Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Sabrina Smith, and their children, Harry Lysons (Marsha Lysons), Serena DeTemple (Jeremy DeTemple), Clara Smith (Derek Bowen), and Daniel Smith; his brother Gary Smith (Debbie Smith); and his half-brother Jim Smith (Pat Smith).
He also has numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his Chookaneidi family, and all his many adopted children almost all of whom still reside in Sitka.
Pallbearers will include Harry Lysons, Serena DeTemple, Clara Smith, Daniel Smith, Derek Bowen and Anthony Hammock.
Honorary pallbearers include: Camille Ferguson, Suzette Burkhart, Sue Ann Lindoff and David Hill Sr.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Prewitt Funeral Home or to the family through Sabrina Smith’s bank account at First National Bank of Anchorage.
Those with questions may contact Clara Smith at 907-752-2030, Serena DeTemple at 907-623-7282 or Jessica Widmark at 907-519-8099.
