Cyrus Scott Smith Obituary 1926-2013
Cyrus Scott Smith passed away Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at age 86.
Born in 1926, “Cy” lived in Elkins for most of his life.
He graduated from Elkins High School in 1944 where he played football and was a drummer in a band. Following high school, he attended West Virginia University. As a child, Cy was a train bearer in the first Forest Festival in 1930 and each succeeding year he enjoyed the Buckwheat Pancake Feed put on by the Izaak Walton League.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth Marie Magnuson “Libby;” his second wife, Barbara Sue Keener “Bobby;” a daughter, Nancy Logan; his parents, Hosea A. and Mildred Crawford Scott Smith; and brother, H.A Smith Jr. “Johnny,” all of Elkins.
He is survived by five children, Sandy (David) Butler of Fort Collins, Colo., Scott (Megan) Smith of Del Mar, Calif., Chris (Susan) Smith of Elkins, Marjorie Smith (Jeff Doba) of Pasadena, Calif., and Rebecca (Tom) Hackman of Elkins; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Early employment in the family business, Smith Chevrolet, resulted in a sustained interest in cars and a brief stock car racing career. Shortly after his marriage to Bobby in 1954, he entered the Army and served for two years in Long Island, N.Y., working with Nike air missile deployment. When Cy returned from the service, he founded Smith Lumber Co.; his next endeavor was Phoenix Hardwood Corp. A lifelong passion for history, toys, trains and coins led to the opening of S&S Antiques in 1968. He and Bobby attended hundreds of auctions, organized estate appraisals and sales and collected antiquities for more than 40 years. In later life, his passion became coins and currency. He was a charter and lifelong member of the Toy Train Operators Society (TTOS) and Train Collectors Association (TCA). For years, he traveled to exhibit trains at these annual shows. This interest got its start in the train room in his childhood home, Scott Hill, where he and his brother, Johnny, designed and built intricate layouts for their Lionel trains.
Family will receive friends at Scott Hill Saturday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. for a celebration of his life. The deceased’s request for cremation was honored, and a private inurnment service will take place at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the West Virginia Railroad Museum at P.O. Box 203, Elkins, WV 26241 or Grace Episcopal Church at 212 John St., Elkins, WV 26241. Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Cyrus Scott Smith. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.
Cyrus Scott Smith Obituary 1926-2013
