Rex Allen Smith

Rex Allen Smith

Feb. 7, 2023

Rex Allen Smith, a nineteen-year resident of the Colville, Wash. area passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 7, 2023 at the age of 72. Rex was born in Odessa, Wash. the son of Benjamin Louis and Betty Jean (Decker) Smith.

He was raised in Odessa, Wash. where he graduated as a 12-year graduate from Odessa High School in 1969. Rex was an accomplished athlete in school both in football and basketball nearly bringing home a first-place title at state. His work ethic not only shown on the athletic field but continued onto the ag-fields where his days began and ended with field work and irrigation of local farms. He also assisted with the family Aerial Application business and Fly-in hunting camp on Moose Creek in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area. On Sept. 6, 1969 he married his high school sweetheart, Pamela S. Lenhart, in Odessa, Wash. They moved to Cheney and began school at Eastern Washington College. Rex very much enjoyed working with the kids at Lakeland Village while attending school. In 1971, Rex and Pam began a family with the birth of their son, Scott. Rex continued into his junior year at Eastern before they returned to Odessa. While there, Annie was born in 1976 and Rex worked setting up circle irrigation systems and grain tanks. In 1983 Rex’s dad asked him if he would like to learn to fly and work for him at Lind Air Service in Lind, Wash. as a crop duster. Rex had found his dream job. In 1984, he and Pam moved to Lind and purchased Lind Air Service which they operated for 20 years. Flying was pure joy for Rex. He loved seeing the sun rise multiple times as he flew over the hills and valleys of the countryside. The long hard days of flying filled the farming season along with boating with their friends at Lake Roosevelt and short trips to Seaside, Ore. with good friends. Winters were left for “Tinker-Time” in his shop and warming bleachers at athletics games watching his children compete. When the kids flew the nest, Rex and Pam moved to the Colville area where they built a home on the family ranch in 2004. Rex continued aerial application for Smith Air Inc.in Odessa until his retirement in 2013.

Rex loved his family with all his heart. He supported and created lifetime memories with them through long days of work and a passion for adventure. He was always on the edge of danger both occupationally as a crop duster and in his eccentric hobbies of snake handling, iguana wrangling, metal art, scuba diving, and as a self-taught black powder specialist. He hand-tooled an arsenal of loud creations from potato guns and handguns to cannonballs and field cannons. The bigger the better! He loved his family with that same gusto and grandeur. He taught them to never let their spirits grow old, not to worry, be fearless, offer colorful expressions when necessary, love greater than your heart’s capacity and that a good weld, duct tape, JB Weld and Blue Goo can hold the world together. His welding wire figurines, metal art sculptures and thousands of photos he took documenting the family will be lifetime remembrances of his artistic expression and uplifting presence. Rex never met a stranger and made friends everywhere he went. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, great-uncle, cat and kitten foster father, peace maker, hero and guardian.

Rex was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Pam Smith, at the home; son, Scott Smith of Lynnwood, Wash .; daughter, Annie (Ryan) Dubois of Everett, Wash .; brothers, Craig Smith (Jean Lewis) of Spokane Valley, Wash., Myron “Sam” Smith (Antonio Ferriera) of Brazil; sister, Devon (Randy) Rauenzahn of Deer Park, Wash .; grandchildren, Zoe and Zander Smith, several nieces, nephews and a host of extended family.

A memorial gathering for Rex will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be given to the Colville Valley Animal Sanctuary. Please visit the on-line memorial and sign the guestbook at http://www.danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements.