Notes:

Corky Sr., hero of "trash wars," dies at 81. "He was always dreaming of doing things better." His name was Corliss Murray Smith Sr., but everyone knew him as Corky, Sr. The dogged but likeable businessman who jumped feet-first into Whatcom County's garbage wars of the 1980s died Friday. He was 81. "He's part of the tradition of Whatcom County," said Barbara Brenner. who made a name for herself on garbage issues before winning election to the County Council. "He was the most genuine person I ever met." In business for himself since he was a youth, Smith moved to Bellingham 35 years ago. Olivine, a rock Smith mined on Lummi Island and later elsewhere, became the foundation of his business interests and renown here. Smith used the material to fashion wood waste incinerators he sold around the world. Later, he decided olivine incinerators could be used to dispose of household garbage. "He was a goer," said former Bellingham Port Commissioner Pete Zuanich. "He was always dreaming of doing things better." Smith built his first trash incinerator in 1985, saying he could out-compete Thermal Reduction Co., the county's garbage giant at the time. Olivine waged numerous legal, political and regulatory battles with TRC and then with its replacement, Recomp Inc. After years of wrangling, mostly over air pollution permits, Smith finally won state approval. "He rushed in sometimes where angels feared to tread, and he often proved the skeptics ... or his critics ... wrong, said Mark Amundson, an attorney for Olivine before he quit law and later became Bellingham's mayor. "His incinerator was a version of that. "He was the little guy's local hero." Recomp and Olivine ended their skirmishing in 1991 when they agreed to cooperate. In effect, Olivine worked as a subcontractor, burning trash Recomp couldn't handle. Last year, Smith said his company was losing money under the deal, so he planned to independently compete for trash disposal contracts in the county. Zunich said it's ironic that Smith died one day after a Seattle arbitrator ruled that the county's garbage laws illegally prevented another disposal company, Recycling and Disposal Services Inc., from competing with Recomp. "His olivine was his hobby and his life and blood," Zuanich said. Others who knew Smith agreed that his business was a central focus of his life. They also agreed that he never let his work stop him from smiling, laughing and getting along with others. "He's like everybody's dad," Brenner said. "He was a hero to me. I guess it was the fighter in him." Church was Smith's other passion. He attended and financially supported First Baptist Church in Bellingham. Just a year ago, he finished a two-year term in charge of the church's governing board. "He really liked it when we sang the old-style gospel songs," said the Rev. Keith Madsen. Smith's funeral will be at 11 Thursday at First Baptist Church. "He was beyond an nteresting guy," Asmundson said. "He was a fascinatingly interesting guy." - The Bellingham Herald

Corliss "Corky" Murray Smith Sr., 81, died at his home of Friday, Feb. 14, following a brief bout of cancer. Mr. Smith was chairman of Olivine Corp., which he founded when he and his family moved to Bellingham in 1962. What began as a small industrial minerals venture is now a world-wide company, selling wood and waste burning equipment. Corky was born Oct. 25, 1915, in Ponoka, Alberta. His parents and family moved to Spokane, Wash., in 1921. Corky has always been in business for himself, starting when he was still in elementary school, selling fruits and vegetables door to door, pulling them in his wagon. As a young teenager, he hawked newspapers of Spokane's downtown streets. He earned the publisher's respect by selling more papers than anyone else had ever done. Corky attended Lewis and Clark High School, but did not graduate. It was the Depression years and he felt he should help his family by getting a job. He went into business for himself, founding Smith Sawdust Co. He owned a fleet of trucks and was named Spokane's "Sawdust King" by the local newspaper (The Spokesman-Review). One of his customers was the federal government, which hired him to haul sawdust to Coulee Dam, under construction. He owned another business until he settled on mining olivine, using it in multiple ways. He was a member of First Baptist Church and served in a variety of board positions. Corky and Mae Smith were married Nov. 25, 1938, in Spokane. They are the parents of Corliss M. Smith Jr., Randal E. Smith and Kristine R. Smith. Besides his wife and children, Corky is survived by three grandchildren, Kelly Lallas and Kendra Smith, K.C. Smith, and two great-grandchildren, Jordyn and Emma. (He is also survived by his two sisters, Illa Phillips of Tucson, Ariz., and Lake Coeur d'alene; and Beverly Vorpahl, Spokane.) Funeral services will be Thursday, Feb. 20, 1997, 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church. Rev. Keith Madsen officiating. Memorial may be made to First Baptist Church, 110 Flora, Bellingham, WA 98225. Arrangements by Westford Funeral Home & Cremation Service. - The Bellingham Herald paid obituary.

"...Corky, owner of Smith Fuel and Sawdust Co., 2530 N. Astor, is "plugging the coffer dam at Coulee to preserve that giant project." "In a specially designed truck, the body of which is 16 feet long at the bottom and 22 feet side at the top, Mr. Corliss Smih is shopping many cords of shavings to Coulee Dam which mixed there with cement, sand and bentonite, a volcanic ash from eastern Wyoming, forms a substance with which the coffee dam leak is being staunchly plugged against the oncoming surge of the Columbia's soaring high water. He has shipped 50 cords and expects to transport 200 more." Sawdust may not make brains, but by coming brains with sawdust, Mr. Corliss who is now but 21, in two years starting only with a down payment on a truck has developed a business with a $40,000 a year trade. ..." - The Spokesman-Review 1936.

Corliss married BISHOP, Mae Lavina on 25 Nov 1938 in Spokane, Spokane, Washington, USA. Mae (daughter of BISHOP, Edward O and SCHAEFER, Christina) was born on 2 May 1919 in Spokane, Spokane, Washington, USA; died on 26 Dec 2012 in Bellingham, Whatcom, Washington, USA; was buried in Spokane, Spokane, Washington, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. SMITH, Randal Edward was born on 2 Mar 1945 in Spokane, Spokane, Washington, USA; died on 29 Sep 2012 in Bellingham WA.
3. Living

Notes:

Funeral services for Lindley M. Smith, 81, S2811 Fiske, will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Thornhill-Geraghty & Langbehn Funeral Home with the Rev. Jerald H. Traeger officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Memorial Park. Mr. Smith, a resident of the city 50 years, died Thursday in a Pullman, Wash., hospital. He was owner and operator of Smith-Moore Sawdust Co. here for a number of years. He was a member of Park Heights Baptist Church, Geological Society, Golden Age Club and the Over Sixty Club. Survivors include his wife, Genevieve, at the home; two sons, Kenneth, Reardan, Wash., and Corliss, Bellingham; two daughters, Mrs. Illa Phillips, Pullman, and Mrs. Beverly Vorpahl, Spokane; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials may be sent to the Memorial Fund of Park Heights Baptist Church. - The Spokane Chronicle

Lindley married WING, Genevieve Amanda on 5 Nov 1914 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Genevieve (daughter of WING, Corliss Smith and ROYCE, Hattie Louella) was born on 20 Aug 1895 in Ramona, Lake, South Dakota, USA; died on 9 Jun 1983 in Spokane, Washington, USA; was buried in Riverside Memorial Park. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Lindley married MCDOWELL, Sarah Jane on 26 Mar 1887 in O’Neill, Holt County, Nebraska, USA. Sarah (daughter of MCDOWELL, E and Ellen) was born on 10 Feb 1860 in Iowa, USA; died on 29 Sep 1954 in Spokane, Spokane, Washington, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Dakota District Cemetery

Corliss married ROYCE, Hattie Louella on 23 Oct 1894 in Madison, Lake, South Dakota, USA. Hattie was born on 6 Oct 1878 in Sutton, Quebec, Canada; died on 20 Sep 1936 in Sidney, British Columbia, Canada; was buried in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Dakota District Cemetery

Charles married FULLER, Anna Marie. Anna was born in Jul 1830 in Wyoming County, New York, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

E married Ellen. Ellen was born about 1835. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Dakota District Cemetery

David married HADLOCK, Julia Elvina on 26 Oct 1871 in Troy, Orleans, Vermont, USA. Julia was born in 1857 in Jay, Orleans, Vermont, USA; died on 10 Apr 1892 in Madison, Lake, South Dakota, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]