As Chuck might have said, echoing Yogi Berra, "When you come to a fork in the
road, take it". Charles "Chuck" Smith passed away peacefully after a long battle
with Parkinson's on Sunday, May 17, 2026. He is survived by his wife of 35 years,

Melinda "Mollie" Smith, daughter Jennifer Smith, son Jeff (Jolene) Smith, step-
daughter Jennie Livingston, step-son Greg "Dane" (K.T.) Livingston, and step-
siblings Kathy Youngberg, Jerry Smith and Sandy Rodriguez. He was blessed

with five grandchildren, Paxson and Atlas Yee Smith, James Rex, and Ofelia and
Gabriel Livingston. He is preceded in death by his brother Fred Smith, with whom
he had many adventures, with an especially memorable trip to Easter Island.
Charles was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, on March 15, 1945, at the close of
World War II. He moved with his brother Fred to Eureka, California, as many did
during the aftermath of the war. They lived with their Aunt Myrtis during his
childhood, and he told great stories about his adventures selling newspapers and
collecting coins on the streets and bars of Eureka. One of his favorite stories was
believing that Frederick & Charles Beauty College was named after his brother
Fred and Chuck himself because it was built on the site of the former apartment
they lived in!

Chuck was in the first graduating class of McKinleyville High School in 1963. He
was quite proud of his class and helped plan multiple memborable reunions. He
excelled in athletics, enjoying football, basketball, wrestling and gymnastics. He
was quite proud of his ability to do an iron cross on the rings. He also ran many
marathons and the annual Clam Beach run. After high school he and his best
friend Dave Silva enlisted in the Army Reserves. They both enjoyed leave and
learning to drive and fix landing craft. He later married, worked at PG&E, and
earned his teaching credential.

He taught math and science at Winship Junior High School and Zoe Barnum
Continuing Education High School, from which he eventually retired. During this
time he coached track and field, helping students with any issues, even taking
them on their first-ever backpacking trips. Their annual jetboat ride up the
Klamath River was the highlight for his students, along with the cupcakes he
baked every year for his birthday to share with the kids and staff.
A "jack of all trades" and a self-taught, lifelong learner best described Chuck.
During his off time from teaching he worked a variety of jobs, including ATM repair,
apartment maintenance, and as a general contractor. He could build anything,
including his house, neighbor's decks, additions and remodels. He passed on his
love for fixing things to his children and grandchildren.

Even before retirement as a teacher, some of his greatest days were spent
traveling. His best advice was to visit the blue highways, the ones less traveled,
as Steinbeck chronicled in his book, "Travels with Charley". His vehicle of choice
was his Ford diesel pickup with a cab-over camper, and he drove it skillfully from
the Rocky Mountains to the "goat trails" in New Mexico. He also enjoyed camping
with his grandchildren in Big Sur and extended trips to farflung relatives in the

Midwest and South. Chuck loved his wife Mollie dearly, and their favorite
adventures included camping on the Colorado river and all over Oregon and
Washington states, as well as enjoying trips together to Hawaii, Mexico, Spain,
France, Jamaica and British Columbia. In recent years he and Mollie spent time
playing cribbage and hosting friends for fun at their cabin on the Trinity river.
Chuck was a loving, caring, kind and patient person to everyone he met. He was
an amazing dad. He loved his children and enjoyed spending time with them and
supported all their dreams. Chuck was blessed with many friends from softball
teams, bowling, golf and yoga. Chuck was always willing to lend a hand to
anyone and had a knack for bringing people together to have a good time, what
Chuck called a "work party".

The family extends special thanks and appreciation to the Hospice team who
helped care for him, especially Nurse Geena and Social Worker Katie. The
supportive staff at Sequoia Springs, including Madison, Krista, Janelle, Summer,
Olivia, Jada, Melissa, Perlita, Armando, Danielle and Kelly, provided excellent care
and a warm environment. Family friends and caregivers, Taylor Randall and
Ashley Hickey, adored Chuck and loved caring for him.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 31st, at the Lutheran
Church of Arcata, 151 East 16th Street, with a reception to follow at Baywood Golf
and Country Club, 3600 Buttermilk Lane, Arcata. Memorial contributions can be
made to Hospice of Humboldt, The Humboldt Historical Society, or a charity of your choice.