James "Jim" B. Smith

Graveside services for James B. Smith will be held July 20, 2016 at the Lusk Cemetery at 10:00 a.m.

A full obituary will follow at a later date.

Pier Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.

The Lusk Herald
July 20, 2016

Valley Center, CA - Being 96, Jim had seen it all from bouncing around in a buckboard across the countryside to cruising the California freeways in a Chevy. It was quite a ride.

He was born November 2nd, 1919 in Glenrock, WY to Lloyd "Doc" and Grace Hutchinson Smith.

As a young lad he lived at the Big Muddy Creek Ranch in Keeline, WY and was a chauffeur for his grandparents. He attended schools in Wyoming and California. He graduated from Lusk high School in 1937.

He met Geraldine Hoblit at a Sadie Hawkins dance in Nebraska. After they married he brought her to the ranch in September of 1938. They raised one son, Jay Smith, and remained there until 1973. They retired from ranch life and moved to Lusk, WY.

Jim became an advocate for the county's rural areas by getting involved in the Wyoming Rural Electric Association, Wyoming Municipal Power Agency, the Board of County Commissioners, Federal Land Bank and the Niobrara School Board.

Later on he and Geraldine began seeing the United States by taking bus tours and spending their winters in Mesa, AZ.

After selling his half of the ranch to Hester Farms they moved out to Valley Center, CA in 2001. In 2007, after 68 years marriage, Geraldine passed away from Parkinson's disease.

Jim's lifetime journey ended on July 3rd, 2016 at his home. His storytelling and life experiences were enjoyed by all who heard them.

He is survived by his sister, Ruth "Pat" Christian of Sun Lakes, AZ, his son, Jay Smith and his wife Vicki of Valley Center, CA. He had five grandchildren, Robyn Miller (Brent) of Escondido, CA, Rachel Prieur (Jim) of American Forks, UT, Merri Bowden (Alan) of Colorado Springs, CO, Sara Allen (Denny) of Ramona, CA and Jimmy Smith (Marisa) of Alpine, UT. He also had 10 great-grandsons, 1 great-granddaughter, and 2 great-great-granddaughters.

The graveside service will be held at the Lusk Cemetery on July 30th, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. with a 12:00 pm reception at the Lusk Senior Center to follow.

Pier Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The Lusk Herald
July 27, 2016

Graveside services for James B. Smith, 96, will be held July 30, 2016 at the Lusk Cemetery at 10:00 a.m.

Pier Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.

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