Doug Smeltzer

Norman Douglas Smeltzer (84) longtime resident of St. Maries, ID passed away at his home on August 12, 2025. He was born to Robert and Gaynelle Smeltzer in Dayton, OH on October 30, 1940. Doug grew up in Bristol, VA and as a young man he set up and placed manufactured homes. As a teenager he played guitar and sang with a group that entertained that area on tv and radio. When Doug married his first wife, they moved to Wyoming where he went to work for Operating Engineers where he operated heavy equipment. In 1962 Doug oved to St. Maries to work on the construction of the St. Joe River Road. He fell in love with the area and wanted to make St. Maries his home, so he relocated to a home at the Parkline. Doug then moved to Spokane still working for Operating Engineers, and continued to temporarily move for work, but returned to the St. Maries area building a log home on Indian Mountain Road near Mission Point, and retiring in the late 1990's. Over the years Doug had 3 marriages that ended in divorce before finding the love of his life Barbara Ragan. They were married on January 1, 2003, at the Community Presbyterian Church in St. Maries, and the slogan of their wedding that was displayed at their reception and later in their home stated, "Happy New Year – Happy New Life". Barbara being Doug's most important love, music was Doug's first love. He was amazingly talented on the guitar and had an incredible voice singing his country music. Doug could put on a beautiful solo; however, he and Barbara even performed on occasion as a couple. Attending the Community Presbyterian Church for a few decades, he would perform for the kids in the youth program. Also putting his talent to use, Doug performed for the residents at Valley Vista, and he enjoyed putting on the karaoke at Paul Bunyan Days, something he did for 7 years. In Doug's earlier years, he became a pilot, and he liked to fly. Although he never owned his own plane, he was able to fly with his club, and at times he would fly Jack Buell's plane to help him move trucks around the Pacific Northwest. Due to his diabetes, he was not only unable to work since he rolled a CAT when he had a dangerous blood sugar level, but he quit flying, so he replaced that hobby with building model airplanes. He built several airplanes, some that were big, and he would fly them out at the airport. He also built miniature grandfather clocks, and 1 winter he built 12 of them. With Barbara by his side, Doug liked to ride his 4-wheeler and camp, specifically miles above Avery where they could enjoy the area, the water, and the huckleberries. Doug is survived by his wife Barbara at their home in St. Maries; children Debby Yearout of Spokane, WA, Steven (Teri) Smeltzer of Spokane, WA, Mark (Dori) Smeltzer of Utah, Caroline Smaldon of Spokane, WA, and Kelly (Trish) Smeltzer of Potlatch, ID, Joni Johnston of Coeur d' Alene, ID, and Dale Barker of St. Maries, ID; former step-son Cory Dawson of Spokane, WA, sisters in-law Georgia Smeltzer, Sylvia Smeltzer, and Betty Smeltzer; 10 grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings Jim, Bob, Kenny, and Alvin Smeltzer. A committal service will be on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 10:00 am at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries, ID. A Memorial Service will follow at 11:00 am at the Community Presbyterian Church in St. Maries with a gathering of family and friends to share a light lunch afterwards in the fellowship hall of the church.