Gerard 'Dard' Wayland-Smith

Gerard "Dard" Wayland-Smith Jr., 72, died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007, at his home in Libby following an extended illness.

A descendant of the Oneida Community, Dard was born May 2, 1934, in Oneida, N.Y., to Gerard and Leonora Rector Crook Wayland-Smith.

He grew up in Oneida, graduating from Sherrill High School in 1952. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York University and Utica College.

Dard married the former Carol Ann Gibson on June 20, 1954, in Inlet, N.Y.

They lived in Flushing, N.Y., El Ferrol, Spain for 2 1/2 years, Oneida and then Mexico City from 1964 to 1966. They later returned in 1972 where Dard served as chief executive officer for Oneida Mexicana.

Dard retired in 1991, and he and his wife moved to Libby to their log home on the Kootenai River. Since that time, he had pursued his life-long passion for fly-fishing and could often be found floating the river.

During his retirement years, Dard guided on the river for The Kootenai Angler and was active in Trout Unlimited and other local conservation groups.

For the past six years, he had served on the board of trustees of St. John's Lutheran Hospital in Libby.

Survivors include his wife; daughters Laura Wayland-Smith Hatch and her husband, Thomas, and Jennifer Wayland-Smith; son Scott Wayland-Smith and his wife, Virginia; grandchildren Nicholas, Jamie Lynn, Michael Gerard and Necia Ann Wayland-Smith Hatch and Abigail Crofton Hatch; step-grandchildren Brian and Steven Rath; great-grandson Mason Michael Timbrook; brother Bruce Rector Wayland-Smith and his wife, Patricia; niece Tina Wayland-Smith; and many close and dear friends who shared his life and passions.

Services were held Tuesday, Jan. 23, at Nelson & Vial Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at a later date at Oneida Community Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Hospital Foundation, 350 Louisiana Ave., Libby, MT 59923.