By MATT PATNEAUDE

William "Bill" Smith, a long-time businessman in the Lake City area, passed away on July 17 after a battle with lung cancer. He was 68 years old.

Smith was born in Seattle and as a youngster attended Lincoln High School and helped his father, Jesse Smith, at Smith Properties on Lake City Way. Founded by Jesse Smith, Smith Properties consisted of numerous investments.

Smith Fuel Company, the Lake City Mobile Home Park, and a copper mine and ghost town in Eastern Washington were some of the Smith Properties interests. The mine and ghost town later became a vacation spot for the Smith family.

When his father retired in 1966, William Smith took over Smith Properties. However, his desire to learn and help others took him into an assortment of activities that went beyond the property business.

As a volunteer with the Lake City Bearded Vigilantes in the 1960's, Smith dressed up in Western outfits to perform in local parades and community events. Money raised at these events was given to charitable organizations.

After moving to a 40-acre farm near the town of Gold Bar in 1979, Smith trained himself as a financial advisor and educated himself about the stock market. He also kept horses and llamas.

Using his new knowledge, Smith did things such as help seniors with their taxes for free. He also hosted and taught financial management classes in his home.

Heronwood Farm Products was co-founded by Smith and his wife, Clineene. "Heronwood" was the name Smith gave his home after seeing blue herons visit a pond on the property.

Picking fruit at Heronwood, Smith would supply Clineene with the ingredients needed to make jams and her locally famous "slug butter." These products were then sold in stores such as Larry's Market.

Smith was active in the Mountain Valley Chapel church in Gold Bar, where he served as a board member. He pushed for the church to restore and expand their building.

After hearing a tape about improving marital relationships, Smith educated himself in that field as well. Soon, William and Clineene were hosting marriage relationship classes at Heronwood.

Three generations of the Smith family have lived and/or worked in the Lake City area, including son-in-law Paul Willis, owner of Don Willis Furniture stores in Lake City and Ballard.

William Smith is survived by Clineene, his children, Loree Forbes Stemerick, Jodee Erickson, Donald Smith, Debera Lee Willis, Susan Lee Schwalb, Julie Lee Hartman, 13 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and his sister Wilma Lee.