Albany, OR - Ross William Smith was born on the family homestead on Pleasant Hill between Mt Vernon and John Day, Oregon, on April 1, 1926, to William and Myrtle Smith. He peacefully passed away in his sleep in the early morning of July 21, 2026, in Albany, Oregon, at the remarkable age of 100.

Ross grew up on his grandfather Jacob Sweetwater Smith's homestead alongside his parents and siblings. He walked or rode horseback down Laycock Creek to highway 26 to attend Belshaw School through the 8th grade. Much of his childhood was spent exploring the surrounding countryside on horseback. Life on the homestead revolved around hard work and using a team of horses that Ross remembered fondly throughout his life. He delighted in telling stories about Major and Sadie, the faithful team that helped work the family farm.

Ross attended Grant Union High between John Day and Canyon City. During the school week, he often rode his horse down Laycock Creek and stayed with the Wylie family so he could catch the school bus. He played tackle on Grant Union's 1943 state championship football team and graduated with honors in May 1944. After receiving a brief deferment because of an eye infection that he developed while haying that June, he was inducted into the United States Army.

Ross entered the army at Fort Lewis, Washington, in September 1944. He often shared humorous "hurry up and wait" stories about his trip to Fort Pendleton for basic training. He became part of the forces the United States was assembling for a planned land invasion of Japan, but those plans changed after the atomic bombs were dropped. Instead, Ross was assigned to the Aleutian Islands. When his unit arrived on Adak, the military was unprepared to care for the 500 men who had been sent there. Because Ross had once made biscuits for his grandfather, he was assigned as a baker, spending the remainder of his enlistment making bread for his fellow soldiers.

Following his military service, Ross returned to Oregon, where his parents had sold the homestead and moved just outside Mount Vernon. He worked in local lumber mills for a few years before meeting Sophie Guyton, a schoolteacher who had been assigned by the state to teach in Mount Vernon.

Ross and Sophie married on June 3, 1951, in Wilsonville, Oregon. They moved to Seneca, Oregon, where Ross had gotten a job working in the woods for Edward Hines Lumber Company. They had and raised 4 children there! Ross's love for the outdoors shaped family life. He introduced his children to camping, fishing, and picnics, sharing his deep appreciation for nature with each of them. He could identify many birds and other wildlife simply by listening to their calls. Family adventures frequently took them into the Strawberry Wilderness and to the Steens Mountains, creating memories that would last a lifetime.

Ross also believed in serving his community. He was active in his local union, where he worked with others to negotiate a retirement fund into the union contract. He helped establish Seneca as an incorporated city and played an important role in organizing its local government. Before retiring, he served several years as Mayor of Seneca. During the city's early years, Ross helped oversee the construction of a sewer system and the modernization of the community's water system.

After retiring in 1988, Ross and Sophie enjoyed many years exploring the American Southwest. Each year they spent October through May traveling and meeting groups of friends along the Colorado River, from southern Utah to Yuma, Arizona, where they enjoyed fishing together. They returned to Oregon each summer to visit family and friends. In June 2008, they settled at Mennonite Village in Albany, Oregon, where they spent their remaining years together.

Ross will be remembered as a devoted husband and father, a proud veteran, an outdoorsman, a community leader, and a gifted storyteller whose love for family, nature, and simple adventures enriched the lives of all who knew him.

Ross is survived by his children Linda Cheyne, Edith Prouty, and Dale Smith; along with 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Sophie, his parents, William and Myrtle, all his siblings, and his son Jerry.

There will be a graveside memorial at Rest Lawn Cemetery 2 PM Saturday August 29th.