Obituary: Smart, Dr. Dick

SMART, Dr. Dick (Age 69) Richard “Dick” Smart was surrounded by his family when he passed away peacefully at his home in Coeur d’Alene on March 28, 2014.

Dick was a kind and gentle man who was deeply loved by his family and friends.

He was a dentist for more than 30 years who treated each patient as a friend.

He was an inventor whose Railcycle gave Dick and his friends a new way to see nature, meet people, and learn new cultures.

He instilled in his family and friends a love of the earth, a spirit of adventure, and an appreciation for the goodness in all people.

He lived life with humor, a childlike sense of wonder, and a commitment to savor every moment of every day.

Dick was born on June 14, 1944 in Asheville, North Carolina to Robert and Francis Smart.

As the son of a forester, Dick spent his early childhood living on ranger stations in western Montana, before moving to Coeur d’Alene in 1955.

After graduating from the University of Idaho and Marquette University Dental School, Dick served for two years as a dentist in the U.S. Navy in California.

Dick returned to Coeur d’Alene in 1973 and established a family dentistry practice, retiring in 2005 and turning over the practice to his son, Tom.

Dick is survived by his wife, Ann of 47 years; his son, Mike, daughter-in-law, Kyler and their children, Ethan and Sydney of Arlington, VA; son, Tom, daughter-in-law, Jennifer and their children, Addie and Elliot of Hayden, ID; son, Jim, daughter-in-law, Amy and their children, Ben, Natalie, and Caroline of Missoula, MT; and daughter, Jennifer, son-in-law Claudio Beltran and their children, Leo and Gabby of Beaverton, OR.

A service to celebrate Dick’s life will be held 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at Lake City Community Church, 6000 N. Ramsey Rd, with a reception afterward.

Yates funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.

Charitable donations may be made in Dick’s name to support brain cancer research at Johns Hopkins University, c/o Dr. John Laterra, Phipps 113-115, 600 N. Wolfe St, Department of Neurology, Baltimore, MD 21205, or to the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation, 105 North 1st Street, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

You may visit Dick’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com YATES FUNERAL HOME, COEUR D’ALENE, ID