Mr. Smithson was born March 28, 1947. He moved to Anchor Point in 1974 and to Homer in 1979. He was a recognized figure around town, especially at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on the Homer Spit.
In the last few years he worked with the Independent Living Center. In July 2005 he traveled to Washington, D.C., as chairman of the State Independent Living Council, which he enjoyed greatly. He was able to visit family in Salem on his way back to Alaska.
Mr. Smithson is survived by his son and family, Richard Smithson III, Jamie Smithson and Richard Smithson IV, all of Salem, Ore.; his daughter, Tamara Smithson Alba, of Yokohama, Japan; two brothers and a sister.
A fund for a bench in his memory at the Fishing Lagoon has been set up at the Independent Living Center, P.O. Box 274, Homer, AK 99603.
Information about fire, police and troopers is taken from public records consisting of logbooks and press releases.
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