Harold Orson Smith ‘Old Shep Smith’
Nov. 3, 1921 - June 7, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 10:11 AM PDT
Payette
Harold Orson Smith (aka “Old Shep Smith”) colorful, longtime Payette resident and a descendant of a long line of Idaho early pioneers, died suddenly at his home early on June 7, 2008. He was born on Nov. 3, 1921, in Bear, Idaho, the son of Orson and Bergie Robertson-Smith, and lived there until he was about 7 years old, when the family moved to a small ranch on Cow Creek at the base of Cuddy Mountain north of Cambridge. There he spent his early years learning to farm, raise and herd sheep, tend livestock and the art of hard work.
Harold attended Cambridge High School for a short time and graduated from Halfway High School in Oregon, where he was active with Future Farmers of America when he entered a national essay contest, sponsored by Goodyear Tire Company, which he won that included a tour of the eastern United States with all expenses paid, and thus began his lifelong love of writing. Over the years he produced many poems, essays, descriptive monologues and historical novels. Two of his best-known books are “On Account” (based on the life of mountain man Jim Summers) and “Heath and Begorry” (his version of the famous murder case of Tom Cavanaugh on Snake River). He was a member of the Gem State Writers Guild, was named its Writer of the Year 2000, won both its short story and essay contests and received certificates for being outstanding in national poetry contests.
Just prior to the Pearl Harbor attack in World War II, he was working for M-K on Palmyra Island, later transferred to Honolulu after the attack, and returned to Idaho when his father passed away on July 5, 1942. Subsequently, he entered the Air Force as an aviation cadet, was discharged in 1946 and began his long and varied work career, starting with operating heavy construction equipment in the southwestern United States, California and Idaho, spent time as a dental technician and sales representative, worked in Arco, Idaho, for the Idaho National Engineering Nuclear Testing Reactor Laboratory site and for 10 years with Douglas Aircraft Company in southern California. He returned to Payette in 1963, began working for Marshall Fixture Company and retired from the Idaho State Transportation Maintenance Department.
Harold was a master gardener, and his property was visited by that organization several times as an example of gardening skill where beautiful vegetables, fruit and flowers grew in abundance, all of which he generously shared with friends and those who wanted it.
Harold loved to travel, and he and his wife visited New Zealand, did two trips to Australia as far as the Indian Ocean, Hawaii, Alaska to the North Pole, Mexico, the Virgin Islands, the Amazon River to Manous, Florida including Epcot Center and Disney World, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Kenya, Amsterdam, New York City, a paddlewheel cruise on the Columbia River and Hells Canyon boat ride, Canada, Branson, Mo., and other locations in the western United States. His travels were the highlights of his life.
Harold was often consulted for historical information and was a frequent visitor to local museums and libraries. He had a sharp memory, including an astounding amount of facts and anecdotes available based on his long life and varied experiences. He entered the modern world with his now aged computer, named Agnes, and enjoyed writing and doing e-mail allowing him to keep in constant touch with friends and family. This was interrupted briefly by a terrible shredder accident, which severed all the fingers on his right hand. Eventually he stoically returned to his computer and all his other activities, which was his way of facing life and all its hardships. He was a kind, caring, honest, generous, fun-loving, thoroughly loyal American from a world that is no more, who appreciated simple living and made the best of whatever came his way.
With many loving memories, he is survived by his wife, Opal, of 41 years; his daughter, Sherri Ryon, of Virginia; his sister, Marian; and brother-in-law Ned Gault, of California; his cousin, June Strebin and family of Venezuela; and a few other relatives. His remains will be cremated, and his ashes interred in the Bear Creek family cemetery.
