Gene Smith

Oct 1, 1943 -

Jun 15, 2023

Gene Leroy "Crazy Gene" Smith passed away on June 15, 2023, at his Big Lake, Alaska, home after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 79 years young, and never stopped dreaming of what he was, "going to do next." Gene was born on Oct. 1, 1943, in Omak, Wash., to Irene Agnes Bereiter Smith and Clyde Emmet Smith. He attended early elementary school in Riverside, Wash., then on to Omak schools through high school, all the while preferring to, in his words, "look out the window" and "be on the family Sheep Ranch working with the ranch hands." He said, "I was 12 years old the first summer I tended sheep in the High Country, alone, with Dad flying in to check on me."

One of his favorite memories was of winning the Omak Suicide Horse Race in 1960. He married after high school and with his first wife, Louise, raised two sons. After the ranching years, he developed an 80-acre apple orchard, then began logging and hauling with his self loader, some real estate business in the mix. At 23, he learned to fly, later becoming a crop duster and wildfire pilot. Many family and friends have good stories, as they were often involved in his endeavors.

In 1995, Gene and wife, Lynn, began raising PBR quality rodeo bulls. That accomplished to his satisfaction, having visited Alaska, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race was next in his sights! He completed the great race in 2008, when bush flying caught his fancy. Alaska became home these 18 years.

Hobbies, you ask? He would say, flying, moonshiner, scuba diver, sailor, skier, hunter/trapper, traveler, mentor and friend to many and, again, flying. Gene was preceded in death by his parents; and first wife, Louise. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Lynn; sister, Judy Hart; numerous cousins; two sons, Robert and Ross "Smiley" Smith; two grandchildren, Robert and Gene Smith; and three stepdaughters, Alicea McCluskey, Crystal Seeman and Nicole Deviou and their families, including six grandchildren.

And we cannot forget all the wonderful friends he has acquired, here and abroad, because of this Great Alaska Adventure!