Ernest E. 'Smitty' Smith

Mass will be said for Ernest Ellsworth "Smitty" Smith of Virginia City at noon Saturday in St. Mary in the Mountains Catholic Church n Virginia City.

A wake will follow at the Ponderosa Saloon in Virginia City.

Mr. Smith died Jan. 26, 2004, at Washoe Medical Center. He was born May 17, 1917, in Max, S.D., to Phinehas Amos and Emma Frances Ward Smith. He was 86.

Mr. Smith grew up in Kansas and came West in 1936. He is a descendant of former U.S. Secretary of State William Seward. Mr. Smith was a timber feller throughout the Pacific Northwest for 32 years then became a cattle rancher in Washington.

Prior to moving to Nevada, he lived in Milwaukee, Ore., and Salem, Ore.

He married Dorothy Mae Deel Jan. 3, 1938, in Wilder, Idaho.

He was a member of the Washington State Cattlemen's Association.

Mr. Smith enjoyed spending time with his friends and family, hunting, fishing, puttering with his flowers and playing cards.

He was preceded in death by his wife June 23, 1996, in Salem; sisters Ruby Mills and Ethel Mills; brothers Thomas, Marvin and James; and granddaughter Mindy Pickel.

Among his survivors are his daughter, Lorraine Du Fresne of Virginia City; daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Greg Noble of Newberg, Ore.; son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Rose Smith of White Swan, Wash.; foster son, Bob Pickel of Toledo, Ore.; grandchildren Shannon Springer of Prairie City, Ore., Kelli Du Fresne of Minden, Tim Noble of McMinnville, Ore., John Du Fresne of Gold Hill, Keith Strasburger of Spirit Lake, Idaho, Richard Smith of Calloway, Neb., Cyndie Noble of Wallowa, Ore., Rob Du Fresne of Gold Hill, Melissa Smith of Florence, Colo., and Wendy and Josh Pickel of Toledo; sister, Hazel Koolman of Grand Island, Neb.; brother, Lowell of Randall, Wash.; and 16 great-grandchildren.

His ashes will be scattered with his wife's at Daly Lake in Oregon this summer and his hat hung on the garden post.

Memorials in his name may be made to the Storey County 4-H Clubs, c/o UNR Cooperative Extension, 2621 Northgate Lane, Ste. 16, Carson City, NV 89706.

Capitol City Cremation and Burial Society is in charge of arrangements.