Loren Judson Smith Jr.

1942 - 2024

BORN

1942

DIED

2024

About

Oregon State University

Loren Smith Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for Loren Judson Smith Jr.
Start: 2024-09-28T23:00:00.000Z
Location: Smith Farms Picnic Shack

Loren Judson Smith Jr.

September 28, 1942 - July 31, 2024

CORVALLIS, OR - Loren Judson Smith Jr. died Wednesday, July 31, at his home and on his farm with his family at his side. He died of Leukemia. He was 81.

He was born to Loren Judson Smith Sr. and Audrey Wiencken Smith in Portland, OR.

As a young boy he attended grade school at Judd Smith District School House, named after his grandfather. He graduated in 1961 from Corvallis High School and spent time at Oregon State University. He then, settled into farming with his father and right hand man, Dean Jones. Loren (JR.) was very interested in farming and took the responsibility very seriously as the farm transitioned from cabbage seed, potatoes, sheep, and goats into grass seed, wheat and clover hay & seed.

On January 1, 1981, he married, Nancy Lewis Nichols.

Loren was known by many for his generosity, particularly to his neighbors. His farm and friends were his life.

Going out on drives around the farm Sunday evening to plan out the week was just part of his disciplined life. He'd look over the crops, keeping an eye out for diseases and pests.

Loren knew what he wanted done on the farm and how he wanted it done.

Farming and family weren't Loren's only passions. He loved crabbing in August, water skiing when he was young, and driving across the country to look for farm parts or equipment with Nancy.

He loved Beaver basketball when Ralph Miller and Jim Anderson were coaching. Going to Alaska with Nancy for their 25th wedding anniversary was high on the list. He enjoyed going to the Pendleton Round-up every year for years. Taking hay to his customers all through the Coast Range and stopping at Deb's Cafe in Alsea for lunch on the way home were two things that he often enjoyed.

Other enjoyments included going to Alsea Christian Fellowship and the potlucks after church on Sundays, Burton's Restaurant, The Big O Restaurant, Sharon's Cafe, and Kimmy's. These were all favorites of his over the years. And they were places with two things in common, they were places with good food and great conversations.

Loren is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter, Melissa; and son-in-law, Matt Fields; son, Daniel; and daughter-in-law, Lorraine; grandchildren, Garrett (wife, Rachael) Logan, Hunter (wife, Makena) Wyatt, Maddie and Tucker Fields; and Audrey and Garth Smith; and great-grandchildren, Aria and Peter Fields.

For the family and the farming community the loss of Loren will be far reaching. He was a steady unchanging force.

The passing of Loren J Smith Jr., is the end of and era... The link with a passion for the stories from the early 1900's to today is gone. But the memories will remain.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Loren J Smith Jr., for Ag fund c/o The OSU Foundation, 4238 SW Research Way, Corvallis, OR; 97333.

The family will be having a celebration of life for Loren on September 28, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. The gathering will be a potluck BBQ held at the Smith Farms Picnic Shack.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Albany Democrat-Herald on Aug. 20, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Loren Smith

1 Entry

Bob Parrott

August 26, 2024

Loren was a long-time customer at our store Parrott´s TV & Appliance. I remember when I first met Loren with him getting out of his old beat-up farm truck with a dirty blue denim shirt, suspenders and denim pants that were stained with grease and diesel. He walked into our store and asked for Mr. Parrott, to which I replied yes, and he said no, I want to speak with your father if he is available. I went over to our house across the parking lot and told my father that there was a Mr. Smith asking to see him, and it looked like he had just got off his tractor. My father laughed and said that was true, but do not be fooled, he owns and farms most of the land south of Corvallis.
My father Don, having grown up on a tobacco farm in North Carolina, had a deep respect for people like Mr. Smith that gave their lives to land and what it could produce. For ten minutes these two talked about the weather and how it would affect Loren´s harvest, the price of diesel fuel, and parts for repairing farm critical equipment. The conversation then led to what it was that Loren wanted to get for his wife Nancy, and that was a new big screen TV. She wants something that looks nice Don, and not just a big black box. Follow me Loren, we have some of the most beautiful oak cabinet sixty inch big screens made by Mitsubishi that you will ever see. Ten minutes later Mr. Smith pulls a roll of $100.00 bills out of his pocket to pay for it. He then asked when he was going to get it delivered, to which my father replied, that my brother Rick and I would be right behind him with one in the box.
When we delivered and set it up you could tell how excited he was to get something nice for the family. We lost my father 22 years ago in April, and my brother and I still look back and remember the lessons that we learned from my father to never judge a book by its cover, and some of the smartest, wealthiest people you will ever meet will drive old beat up pickups, and have diesel-grease stained overalls.
Bob & Rick Parrott

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