Edgar Vye Smith Jr

Ed was born on May 13, 1938, to Edgar V. Smith, Sr. and Olga C. Marchioro. He passed into the Lord’s waiting arms on November 13, 2023. Edgar graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory School in 1956 and Gonzaga University in 1960 after attending Paris-Sorbonne University for 6 months as an exchange student. He obtained his master’s degree in French from Eastern Washington University in 1969. Edgar’s love of teaching French spanned 40 years and included working at St George’s High School and Spokane Falls Community College. He served in the US Army Reserve in the 1960’s. Edgar also owned and managed Smith Bros. Greenhouses, following his father’s death in 1972. He was very proud to have grown and planted most of the flowers for Expo ’74. He was also very well-known as a pianist, performing solo and with his band, The Cobras, around Spokane and elsewhere, including a concert at the Spokane Coliseum. Edgar is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Cathy Lee, and children Debra (Bruce) Woolman, Kimberly (Randy) Slovarp, and Jason Smith; his siblings, Marilyn Richards, and David (Molly), Michael (Sandy), and Robin Smith, 11 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren, as well as his former wife, Eileen Arsenault, and very dear cousins, numerous nieces and nephews, and lifelong, very close friends. The family will be providing funeral flowers, so alternatively, we suggest calling your local florist to send a bouquet to a loved one; or in lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider donating to Gonzaga Prep in memory of Edgar V. Smith. The family is planning a private burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. A memorial mass will be held at St. Thomas More (505 W. St. Thomas More Way) on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 11 a.m., with a luncheon following. Funeral arrangements provided by Hennessy Funeral Home. Online memorial page can be found at https://www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com/tributes/Edgar-Smith.