NATHAN O. SMITH

Palmer resident Nathan O. Smith, 81, died April 5, 2002, at home after a long illness.

Funeral services will be held at Kehl's Palmer Mortuary, 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 13. Visitation will take place at noon. Pastor Bob Lee will conduct services. Burial will be at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.

Mr. Smith was born May 1, 1920, at his family's home in Palmer. An original Alaskan pioneer, he lived most of his life on the Smith family property in North Palmer. He was married for 52 wonderful years to Dorothy Grace Smith.

Mr. Smith worked in the construction industry as a heavy equipment mechanic, helping build roads into Denali and highways in Alaska. He served honorably in the USAF during World War II and participated in the American Theater in the Aleutians. He was awarded the Bronze Star.

Mr. Smith was an active ham radio operator whose call letters, KL7DJE, were heard around the world. He provided critical communications during the 1964 earthquake and support communications for climbers on Denali and mushers in the Iditarod race. He participated in the MARS network. He was very active on the Snipers NET and Motley NET and in maintaining ham radio communications in Alaska.

The love of his hobby meant many hours spent at his radio desk, through which he met his closest friends. He has received the last call, "Nate, come up from that ham shack." KL7DJE 73's, thanks for the contacts.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; his mother and father, Theron and Martha Smith; brothers, Robert and James Smith; sisters, Grace Dahl and Alice Williams; and daughter, Sandra Lee Daniel.

He is survived by his daughters and their husbands, Vicki and Bill Pedersen and Jackie and Dan Corey; grandchildren and spouses, Kevin and Jamie Koslosky, Cindy and Gordon Richmond, Laurie and Murel Kidd, Terri Corey, Amber Daniel and Billy Daniel; brother, Theron Smith Jr.; sisters, Nancy Still, Pearl Hughes, Pat Pitcher, Shirley Hislop and Sarah Kazashorov; and great-grandchildren, Alexis, Cully, Cassie, Caity, KayLee, Derek and Coree.

Arrangements were made by Kehl's Forest Lawn Mortuary and Crematory.