James Clarence Smith, 86, a longtime resident of Clear Lake, passed away on Sunday, April 2, 2006 at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon.
He was born on March 11, 1920 in South River, New Jersey, the son of James P. & Jeanette B. Stone Smith.
Jim was raised and attended school in New Jersey until coming to Washington in the late 1930’s where he worked for the CCC camps. He was in the Merchant Marines during WWII. He later returned to New Jersey for a while, retuning to Washington in 1946, settling in Bellingham. He was united in marriage to Hazel Erickson in Sedro-Woolley in 1946 and they made their home in Ferndale until 1955 when they moved to Clear Lake and Jim worked as a painter and a dairyman on a local dairy farm for several years. He later worked as a hod carrier in the construction industry, retiring in 1980.
He was a member of the Laborers Union #901 in Mount Vernon and of the Community Covenant Church in Clear Lake. His wife Hazel preceded him in death in 2002.
He is survived by his daughter, Evelyn Baldwin and her husband Dennis of Kuna, Idaho; 2 sons, Glen Smith and his wife Candy of Burlington and Larry Smith of Sedro-Woolley. 1 brother, Donald Smith of New Jersey and 1 sister, Ruth Olsen of Burlington. 2 granddaughters, Leah and Kelli Smith.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Community Covenant Church in Clear Lake.
At Jim’s request there will be no funeral services. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.