John Smith, 79

John W. Smith, 79, of Brooks, passed away Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, at his home in Brooks after a courageous 10 year battle with cancer.
John W. Smith, the son of Ira Jennings and Juanita Bell (Rue) Smith was born July 6, 1945 in Alpine, Texas.
John married JoAnn Smith, and together the couple had three children, Martin, Ira and Shawna. They later divorced. John married June Smith. They had one child together, Misty; he also gained four bonus kids, Ronda, Mike, Brett and Cory. They later divorced, and he married Barbara “Bobbie” Smith on July 20, 2003, and gained three more bonus kids, Keara, Mariah and Jeremiah.
In his early 20s he was a Sheriff in Grants Pass Oregon, a job he took great pride in! Over the course of his lifetime he had many jobs, from Long Haul truck driving to hauling logs out of the woods, to one of the most respected and sought-after Yarder Engineers on the Southern Oregon Coast. He was a Dozer, Loader, Heavy Equipment and Crane Operator. Let’s just say there wasn’t anything too big he couldn’t run or an engine he couldn’t fix! A Master Of All Trades was he! At one point in his life he was just a few short hours shy of getting his small engine pilots license! His multifaceted skills allowed him to travel the country for work. Which led them to Iowa, where John helped construct the local POET plant and they decided to put down roots. In September 2007 John was finally able to retire, which just meant he didn’t have to punch a time clock anymore but there was still work to be done! He spent his days chopping and selling firewood to all the locals, tinkering on small engines and working around the property, Helping anybody and everybody that needed a hand. He was an avid gun collector of new and old and could tell you what model a rifle was just by glancing at it and even what year they stopped production on them. Oh, and the hunting stories he could tell yah! One of John’s real passions in life was motorcycles. He loved to ride them, having owned 47 different motorcycles over the years! John was able to make one last trip out to Oregon last year to finally walk his daughter Misty down the aisle by way of a train ride with his wife Bobbie, and he just couldn’t get over how that was one of the greatest adventures he’d ever had! That time he’d spent traveling seeing the beautiful countryside with his wife was as he’d said “perfect”! John was an incredible communicator who never met a stranger; he loved to reminisce about the good ole days with friends and family. He will be greatly missed by everybody that knew and loved him! But it is now his time “To Go Rest High On That Mountain”!
Left to cherish John’s memory are his wife, Bobbie Smith, Brooks; daughter, Mariah Owens (significant other, Nicholas Tiemann), Marinette, Wis.; daughter, Keara Thomas, Creston; son, Jeremiah Thomas, Waterloo; son, Martin (Debbie) Smith, Glendale, Ore.; daughter, Misty (Dustin) Williamson, Coos Bay, Ore.; daughter, Cory (Bart) Pulse, Roseburg, Ore.; son, Michael (Mary) Godley, Oregon; son, Brett Godley, Idaho;  many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother, Kenneth (JoAnn) Smith, Glendale, Ore.; sister, Dadie Rates, Florida; sister, Sherri Hollingsworth, Glendale, Ore.; several nieces nephews, other relatives.
Preceding John in death were his parents; son, Ira; two daughters, Ronda Prince and Shawna Gipe, two sisters, Iralene Crum and Carolyn Smith (as a child); second wife, June Smith.
As per his wishes, no formal services are planned at this time. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society. Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center was in charge of arrangements. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences online at pearsonfuneralhomes.com.