Wayne Maurice Smith

Dr. Wayne Maurice Smith was born at home on June 1, 1922 in Poplar, Montana to parents Emma and Floyd Smith.  He joined two sisters Joyce Smith Campbell and Marjorie Smith Street who have preceded him in death.

Wayne spent 18 of his years in Poplar where he attended the Presbyterian Church and was very active in football, basketball and track.  In track, he broke the one-half mile record in a state track meet in Missoula, Montana.  He also was a member of the high school band where he played first trumpet and studied piano.  While in high school he played in a dance band called “Four Kings and a Queen” that entertained at various resorts.

While growing up he was a member of the Boy Scouts of America obtaining his Eagle Rank with Palms.  He served in the New York World’s Fair and was a scouting guide to notables in Washington D.C...  Canoeing was also a favorite pastime for Wayne, and he had many adventures on the Poplar River, Missouri River and 4 summers spent in the Boundary waters of Minnesota canoeing from one lake to another.

With the cold winters in Poplar he spent his winters ice skating and playing ice hockey on the Poplar River. Wayne graduated high school as Valedictorian of his class in 1940.  He started college at the University of Washington in the fall of 1940 but after the attack on Pearl Harbor he quit school and joined the navy where he served on various bases and on board a ship called LST 41.  While in the navy he met and married Marjory Wolf who was a U.S. Navy Wave who was serving at Mare Island Hospital in California.  To this union 3 children were born: Kathryn Smith Pauly, Craig Lawrence Smith and Dr. Floyd Dale Smith.      

After the end of the war Wayne returned to the University of Washington where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Science Degree. Wayne did a lot of research of Polio and other viruses and published several papers.  He then entered the University of Washington Medical School, continuing his research and training at Harborview Hospital.  After completion of his medical training, Chehalis, Washington was decided upon to begin his medical practice and where he could raise his children in a smaller town.

While enjoying and practicing his medical, surgical and obstetrical medicine in Chehalis, Wayne became interested in Mountain Climbing with his good friend Bill Stefon and spent many years climbing.  He was the founding member of the Whistlin Marmot Club.  He made the summits of Mt. McKinley with his son Craig, Mt. Rainier many times, Mt. Baker, Mt. St. Helens (before eruption) Mt. Hood, Mt. Shasta, Mt. Whitney.  He made the first ascent of Mt. Kennedy with the National Geographic Magazine, and Mt. Logan in the Yukon.  While enjoying the mountains he became interested in the Juneau Ice field Research Foundation and spent 20 years doing a few weeks each summer on the ice field doing research.

He continued his mountain climbing by being a mountain guide in Nepal and Tibet for twenty seasons.

As Wayne’s outdoor adventures evolved, he became interested in sailing and thus began his avocation sailing to Hawaii with his son Floyd, many trips with his family to Alaska and Puget Sound and the San Juan’s.

After the death of his first wife, Wayne remarried Karen (Day) Hartman on July 29, 1989 on Mt. Rainier.  They did a lot of sailing, climbing and hiking in Nepal and Alaska.  They had almost 30 years of marriage.

At age 70 Wayne decided it was time to retire from the practice of medicine.  He loved his practice and his patients with his whole being and it was a hard decision.  When asked once how many babies did you deliver?  His answer was gee, I don’t know but at his retirement party in 1993 the reception line was clear around the block.

Wayne is survived by a loving family: His wife Karen, 3 children Kathryn Pauly (Mark) of Philadelphia, Pa; Craig Smith (Sue) of Yakima, WA; and Dr. Floyd Smith (Liz) of Chehalis.  Two step-daughters: Jennifer McCarthy (Jeff) of Snohomish, WA and Monica Campfield (Mike) of Lynden, WA.  Seven grandchildren: Matthew, Theodore, Colette, Wynn, Clark, Spencer and Max. 3 step grandchildren: Justin, Brycen and Derek. 5 great grandchildren: Amelia, Nadia, Gus, Claude and Arthur.

Wayne’s ashes will be spread on Mt. Rainier where he and Karen were married. A memorial service will be held at the Harrison Square Presbyterian Church in Centralia, Washington on March 30, 2019 at 1 pm. Memorial gifts appreciated in Wayne’s name to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Chehalis, Washington.

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