Bryce Warren Smith Sr.
June 18, 1933 - April 3, 2017

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Longtime Lake County resident Bryce W. Smith, age 83, passed away on April 3 in Clearlake losing his fight against lymphoma.

Bryce was a fifth generation Lake County resident. He was born in Upper Lake to Wilbert “Webb” and Effie Smith.

As a boy, he said he used diamonds he found for slingshot ammunition. He was raised by his Grandmother Effie in Cobb Valley at the old Smith home site. He would make a sandwich for lunch and walk throughout the Kelseyville area returning in the evening, something unheard of today.

When his father forced him to dig a septic tank in clay around their Lakeport house he joined the Navy instead.

His first naval job was an aircraft mechanic. In his first year a chief grabbed him after he slipped on a tire almost falling into a running propeller.

He decided to change careers and worked on simulators for the rest of his time in the Navy where he was stationed in Hawaii, Mare Island and San Diego.

He later continued his career in simulators by working on driving trainers in high schools all along the west coast and Alaska.

He loved hunting and enjoyed serving with the Safari Club and the Elks. He had four children with his first wife: Bryce Jr., Frank, Kenneth and Monica. His marriage with Bessie brought step-daughter Janet and step-son Russell into the family.

He is survived by his wife, Bessie; son, Frank; daughter, Monica; step-daughters, Janet and Deena; step-son, Russell; and grandchildren, April, Jessica, Caleb “CJ,” Justin and Logen.

Visitation will held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 1625 N. High St. in Lakeport, on Saturday, April 8, from 10 to 11 a.m., with funeral service to follow at 11 a.m.

For further information please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

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