Ambrose 'Andy' Elwood Smith, 74

Ambrose "Andy" Elwood Smith, 74, passed away on Friday, March 30, 2007, in Sandpoint, Idaho, after a long battle with bladder cancer.

A memorial and celebration of his life will be held on April 8, 2007. Please call for location and time, (208) 457-8505.

Andy was born on March 10, 1933, in rural Pennsylvania and grew up on his grandfather's large farm.

In his 20s, like many other young men, he went to seek his fortune on the west coast in California.

His first job there was as a metal stamp operator in Burbank, Calif. From there he worked at several jobs all over the western states including long haul truck driver, residential home construction and ranch hand.

In February 1966 while working at Defense Depot Ogden in Ogden, Utah, he met his lifelong companion and wife, Orpha. They were married shortly thereafter and started a family a year and half later with the birth of their first child in 1967.

In 1972 he was laid off at DDO and found work briefly as a taxi cab driver before starting his career with Utility Trailer in Clearfield, Utah. He worked there as the swing-shift supervisor until his health forced an early retirement in 1983.

In 1984 he moved to Priest River, Idaho, along with his family and lived there for the remainder of his days.

His hobbies were fishing, carpentry, woodcarving, storytelling and reading a good book. He also enjoyed all sorts of racing but especially NASCAR. He was a wonderful, generous man that had a great sense of humor and a great laugh. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Andy is survived by his wife of 41 years Orpha of Priest River; daughter Jeannette and her husband Danny of Post Falls; son Derrek and his wife Theresa of Raymond, Wash.; son Damon and his fiance Heather of Priest River; and four grandchildren, Anthony, Kassandra, and Samantha of Raymond, Wash., and Garrett of Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Family and friends are invited to sign Andy's online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.