Richard "Rick" Layton Smith

Richard Layton Smith died at Alaska Regional Hospital on May 12, 2025. Born February 11, 1945 in Holyoke, Massachusetts to Richard L Smith and Helen Smith (nee Proulx). He was 80 years old.

Rick’s father enlisted at age 16 during WWII in the Army Air Corps. He served as a combat pilot promoted during wartime, to the rank of captain. After the war he re-enlisted as a Master Sergeant eventually attending OCS and retired after 31 years of service as a Lt. Colonel. Rick, due to his father’s military career spent his formative Years in Waco, Texas, Spokane WA, Kansas and Little Rock, Arkansas. The family drove to Alaska in 1961, two days after Rick was issued his driver’s license. His father drove one vehicle, and Rick drove the family’s second car. Despite his inexperience his only mishap was falling asleep and driving off the highway with no harm to him or his little brother in the car! He attended West High where he was the quarterback of the football team. A fine athlete he also excelled in basketball and baseball. In 1964 he worked for the Alaska Railroad as a “gandy dancer” rebuilding portions of the earthquake damaged railway track. He also worked for Pacific Northern Airways as a ticket agent for a short period and for Union Oil Co in Seattle from 1966 to 1973. During that time, he met his future wife Barbara Jean Mosher, a graduate of West High. They were married in 1969.

Wanting to return to Anchorage they left Seattle in 1973 and Rick went to work for Mike Shupe as a manager of The Bicycle shop. During this time, Rick, Mike Shupe and Jack Brushert formed a non-profit to start the Northern Knights a minor league professional basketball team in the Eastern Basketball League which became the Continental Basketball league. The team was well received; however travel expenses were too large for the team to survive. In 1979 Rick joined Cessco, a company affiliated with the oil and gas industry. He left this company to become a manager of logistics and supply during the Exxon Valdez oils pill. He stayed in the industry and eventually was promoted to V.P. of government relations. He retired in 2007.After retirement he and Barbara spent many an enjoyable winter in Palm Desert where Rick became a member of the Indian Wells Country Club. He also enjoyed watching sports, pub crawling and arguing politics.

In November, 2017, his most devoted and beloved wife, Barbara passed. Rick mourned her death for the remainder of his days. He was very capable organizer. He volunteered his services to various establishments and non-profits to conduct their golf tournaments. He would handle everything from dealing with the golf course, setting the handicaps, the pairings, the prizes and the refreshments. He conducted tournaments in Alaska, Washington, the Monterey Peninsula Palm Desert and Mesquite. His tournaments were always well and fairly run. He was a very gregarious person, fun to be around and generous to a fault. He will be missed. Rick was preceded in death by his father Lt. Col Richard Smith, his mother Helen and his wife Barbara. He is survived by his brother Peter Scott Smith of West Palm Beach, Florida, his nephews Daniel Smith of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Corey Smith of Gainesville, Florida, and niece Krista Smith of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A celebration of life will be held at the Buckaroo Club from 2 to 5 pm on July 13 in Anchorage.