Bryant L. Lt. Col. SMICK

1922 - 2017

SMICK,
Bryant L.,
Lt. Col.

After almost 95 years of surviving bombers being shot down, various Piper Cub forced landings, auto accidents, POW camps, pneumonias, surgeries and three fairly rambunctious kids, Bryant Loring Smick touched down for his final landing on January 18, 2017.
Bryant was born on February 27, 1922 to August and Grace Smick in Endicott WA. He lived most of his life in St. John, Washington attending their schools while keeping busy playing football, basketball and baseball. He was offered the opportunity to play football at Eastern Washington College but instead chose to attend Walla Walla College where he met a dark haired beauty, Marjorie LaGreide while pursuing his love of aviation. He and Marjorie married on October 31, 1942.
With World War II looming, he joined the Army Air Corp and later became an instructor and pilot of a B-24 aptly named "The Liberty Belle". As with many B-24's, he was shot down near Trieste, Italy on his 26th mission. He was eventually captured and imprisoned in Germany at Stalug Luft III until they were liberated 11 months later. He was later awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart, POW Medal of Honor and the Presidential Unit Citation. Bryant later authored his memoirs, "What a Life" which is a
fascinating account of his incredible life.
Bryant and Marjorie returned to St. John, WA after the war and embarked upon a career of farming and flying. He owned and operated Smick Aviation, a pioneer of crop dusting in Whitman County, for 25 years.
He was active in the American Legion, Air Force, US Officers, Reserve Officers and POW Associations. He also found time to serve 9 years on the board of Spokane Community Colleges with two years as chairman as well as being the local Republican Precinct Chair for 10 years.
Bryant's interests were many but he loved Priest Lake and golfing the most. The self-proclaimed "Best Golfer in Whitman County" won many golf awards but most enjoyed beating Marge on the links at 10 cents per hole. Both Marge and Bryant were members and supporters of the St. John Golf Club as well as the clubs at Priest Lake, Hayden Lake, Spokane Club and Camp Pendleton where many grudge matches were played.
Bryant leaves behind his daughter Jan (Steve) Ashworth of Oceanside CA, sons Gary (Char) of Mukilteo WA, Skyler (Lisa) of Coeur d'Alene, eight grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Marjorie, parents August and Grace Smick, brother Brennen, sister Billie and son-in-law Lloyd Pike.
The family wishes a heartfelt thank you to Community Pride in St. John, Ryan, Kenda and Kaylee Bishop of Legacy Gardens in Spokane and their wonderful caregivers. Bryant's passion, the St. John Golf Club, would be proud recipients of any remembrances.
A celebration of Bryant's incredible life will be held on Sunday, May 28, 2017 at the St. John Community Building.
"Please Lord...no more war".
BRUNING FUNERAL HOME, Colfax, WA