Franklin Smoke

1919 - 2023

Franklin Smoke
December 30, 1919 - June 6, 2023
Boise, Idaho - Franklin Goodwin Smoke, 103 years old, passed away on June 6, in Beaverton OR. He was previoulsy a 50-year resident of Boise, ID. Frank was born in Paris, Ontario, Canada on December 30, 1919. He was the 1st of three children to Sheldon and Isabel Smoke.
As a boy Frank played hockey, baseball, and golf. In High School he was seriously ill, missing over a year of high school, before returning and graduating in 1938. He graduated with an Electrical Engineering Degree from Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, in 1945.
Although Frank's degree was Engineering, he spent his work life in Food Production. His first and favorite job was at Kellogg's of Canada. At Kellogg's he rose to Production Supervisor of new products and is where he met Jean, his future wife. They married in 1955 and settled for a while in London, Ontario, Canada.
After Kellogg's Frank worked for other well-known food companies in North America, including Kraft, Standard Brands, Rice-A-Roni, and Ore Ida Foods. His last job was with the State of Idaho, retiring in 1985.
His career took Frank and Jean from London (Canada), to Calgary, Chicago, and Northern California (twice). It was Ore-Ida that finally brought Frank and Jean to Boise.
Boise must have been the right place. For 50 years he had lived all over North America and then spent the next 50 years in Boise, in the same home. At Ore-Ida he was proud that he suggested they added to all potato packaging "Produced in Idaho".
Through their travels, they had two children, Anne was born in 1965 in Chicago, and Geoff in 1960 when they were in Calgary. Frank also enjoyed organizing sports. At Kellogg's he organized the women's and men's softball leagues. In Boise he was commissioner of the first Optimist youth hockey league, at the original "Treasure Valley Iceland" Rink in 1975.
One of Franks favorite memories were the family vacations, a tradition in the 1970's. Frank drove and Jean picked out the restaurants and motels. To choose a motel there were three criteria. They had to be within the family budget, they had to be clean, and they had to have a pool for Anne and Geoff. In retirement, Frank and Jean continued to travel and visited the kids and grandkids often.
If you're a long time Boisean there's a good chance you are also a passionate Boise State football fan and Frank certainly was. He was recognized by the Boise Optimist Club and the Idaho Statesman for his volunteer work at Boise State Football games where he sold programs for nearly four decades. Although he liked them all, his favorite coach was Tony Knap, a former CFL Head Coach. Frank was also a member of "The Society of 1932" at Boise State.
Frank golfed and took long walks several times a week into his 90's. His key to a long life; "Easy Swing, Far Go" Apparently that works for golf as well.
Friends, family, and neighbors, please join us for a reception in Boise on August 19th. You can contact Geoff or Anne for details.
Frank is survived by his; children Anne Nasrallah (Tony) of Jacksonville, FL and Geoff Smoke (Bridget) of Beaverton, OR; grandkids Geoffrey, Ben, Bailey, Jon, and Carly; and four nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his wife Jean, by grandkids A.J. & Peter Nasrallah; sister Helen, brother Art, and one nephew. We suggest remembrances to Boise State University or Senior Solutions.