Maurice Smith

Maurice Randolph Smith of Yakima passed away on November 13, 2017 at 99 years old. He was born in Spokane, Washington on August 31, 1918 to Alice Smith (Hageman) and M. (Maurice) Randolph Smith. He had two sisters, Jane Louise and Helen Karenda, who both preceded him in death.

Maurice attended Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane. He was very active in the Boy Scouts and achieved Eagle Scout. He graduated from Washington State College in 1941 in Architectural Engineering, was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, and participated in Army ROTC. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers Reserve in 1941. He met his future wife, Evelyn Jean Howard of Yakima, in the spring of 1938 at an exchange with Pi Beta Phi sorority.

After graduation, Maurice was employed by Consolidated Aircraft Corp. in San Diego, California before being called to active duty in July 1941 to the Army Combat Engineers at Fort Ord, California. Jean and Maurice were married at Fort McArthur, California on December 28, 1941. He served at various Army posts in the U.S. for several years. Jean was with him as he moved around the country until he was sent to England to train for the cross-channel invasion.

Maurice landed at Utah Beach in Normandy, France on July 7, 1944. He performed military engineering duties in France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. His battalion, which built floating bridges across the Moselle and Rhine Rivers, participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He served as a platoon leader, company commander and a battalion staff officer.

Maurice was in France on VE Day, May 8, 1945. His unit then moved to southern France to await transport to Japan, but the atomic bombings ended the war before they left. He returned to the U.S. and completed his military service in late 1945 with the rank of major and he was awarded the European Service Medal, the American Theatre Campaign Medal, the Victory medal and five bronze battle stars.

In January 1946, Maurice joined the architecture practice of John S. Villesvik in Yakima. In 1954, he became a partner and then became sole owner of the practice of Villesvik & Smith in 1972 when Mr. Villesvik retired. He owned and ran the practice for 12 years before retiring in 1984 when the practice was sold. During Maurice’s 38 years in the private architectural practice, he was designer or principal architect on many well-known public, commercial and private buildings in the State of Washington from Cle Elum to Kennewick and in Moses Lake and Spokane.

Maurice was a member of the American Institute of Architects, president of the Yakima Valley chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute, and a member of the Yakima Lions Club and Elks Club. He was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Yakima and served for 6 years on the City of Yakima Board of Adjustment. He was active in the Boy Scouts when his sons were in Scouting and he enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, gardening and traveling. Jean and Maurice liked to garden and received the Garden of the Month award from the City of Yakima in 2003. After retirement, Jean and Maurice traveled and saw many interesting parts of the world. Jean passed on January 4, 2012.

Maurice appreciated those who extended their help and kindness to him including his family, members of the Presbyterian Church, the Yakima Lions Club, Tana Ealy, his caregiver for many years, other caregivers and service people, the medical and dental professions, Meals on Wheels, Washington State Talking Books, Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital, friends and staff at Brookdale Englewood Heights, Cottage in the Meadow, and friends and neighbors.

Maurice is survived by his sons, Philip (Sandi) of Springfield, Oregon, and Douglas (Kate) of Seattle, Washington, four grandchildren, Geoffrey (Valerie), Emily, Virginia and Scott, and two great grandchildren, Harrison and Wesley.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Keith & Keith Funeral Home.

Donations may be made to the Lions Club of Yakima, PO Box 421, Yakima, WA 98907 or to the Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church for the YWAM Cambodia Mission Fund, 9 S. 8th Street, Yakima, WA 98902.

Those wishing to leave a memory of Maurice may do so at www.keithandkeith.com.