John Houston Buckley Smith

John Houston Buckley Smith, 85, passed away on March 9, 2022, in the home of his daughter and son-in-law on Misty Mountain in Eagle River, Alaska. John was born May 20, 1936, in Colorado Springs, Co. to Matthew Ryan Smith and Louise Miller Smith. Shortly after his birth, John’s father, who was in the banking business located the family to San Francisco. In 1949, John contracted polio and was hospitalized for a year where he suffered paralysis of his respiratory system. John recovered but with lifelong disabilities The family went on to live in Fresno, CA., Pasadena, and Berkley, CA. where John graduated from High School. The adventures continued at Bellermine Preparatory Catholic School, where John, a bit of a prankster, was expelled for blowing up the school courtyard’s coy fishpond. Not to be deterred, John joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, and went on to earn a degree in Forestry from Humboldt State University in 1957. John was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in January of 1962.

John Married Lynette Alton in July of 1959 in Dunsmuir, CA. They built a family home in Mt. Shasta, CA and had two daughters, Debbie and Teri. The marriage lasted 14 years. In January of 1975, John and Joanne C. Jones were married in Monterey, CA., and made their home in Weed, CA. Joanne had two children, Judy and Jim. Joanne passed away from pancreatic cancer in August of 1998. A chance meeting set up by John’s daughter Teri, and a high school friend Jo Ann, led to John’s third marriage to Barbara A. Bellott in 2000. It was at this time John moved to Anchorage, Alaska to be with Barbara and near his daughters.

John was employed by the Southern Pacific Land Company as a licensed forester until retiring approximately in 1994, and commercial fished for a time in the Gulf of Alaska. He was a devout catholic and parishioner at Our Lady of Guadeloupe Catholic Church. He had a great eye for photography and blessed his family with many wonderful photographs. He enjoyed his dogs, fishing, four wheeling, nice cars, flying his drone, and cross country traveling with Barbara in their motorcoach.

John is survived by his spouse, Barbara Smith; sister, Suzi Powers; daughter Teri Nienhaus (Doug); stepchildren, Judie Jones, Jim Jones (Denise), Jo Ann Wallace (Coke), Robbie Bellott (Joan) and honorary adopted son Frank Koloski. Grandchildren include Cobi Smith-Mass, Travis Buckmeier, Trevor Buckmeier, Ashley Presley, Kaitlyn Jones, Christopher Jones, Mercedes Nienhaus, Parker Wallace, Roanne Bellott and Frank Koloski, Jr. (Buckshot). John has 8 great grandchildren.

John is preceded in death by his mother and father, Matthew Ryan Smith and Louis; his second wife Joanne C. Smith; his brother, Richard Malcom Smith, and his daughter, Deborah Ann Smith.

A memorial service will be held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 3900 Wisconsin St., Anchorage, Alaska on March 23, 2022. A visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. with the memorial service following at 2:00 p.m. and a celebration with refreshments at 3:00 p.m. All are welcome. John will be laid to rest mid-April in Weed, CA.