Craig Alan Smith, 68

Craig Alan Smith, 68, of Troy and Tucson, Ariz., passed away peacefully at his Troy home Nov. 12.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Gina DeLeo Smith; two daughters, Danielle and Michael Eileen; three sons, Brandt, Ethan, Zane (all which inherited Craig’s razor-sharp sense of humor); and his sister, Nancy Chaney of Scottsdale, Ariz. He also is survived by many nieces, nephews and other family. Craig is the son of Hazel and Dick Smith, and brother to Marjorie Spencer, all deceased, of Tucson.

Born into a Tucson homesteading family, Craig spent much of his time outdoors hunting and fishing with family while attending Amphitheater High School. He earned his metallurgical engineering degree from the University of Arizona and worked at Lucky Wishbone before hiring on with the copper mines south of Tucson.

In 1982, Craig transferred to the position of assistant mill superintendent at the ASARCO Silver Mine in Troy, where he met Gina. His next project was in Winnemucca, Nev., as mill superintendent of Rabbit Creek Mine. He designed the mill for the start-up of the Santa Fe Railroad Gold Mining Division.

Craig then moved the family to Yuma, Ariz., to be closer to his elderly parents. He became general manager of the Mesquite mine, one of the largest gold mines located near Brawley, Calif., where he initiated a reforestation program of the waste dumps with native trees.

Craig and family traveled to La Paz, Bolivia to become general manager of IntiRaymi Kori Kollo, the largest gold mine in the country. At mine closure, he developed a program to fill the pit with water diverted from the local river to establish an ecosystem and fish hatcheries to help sustain the local economy.

In 2003, the family returned to Troy where the children worked alongside their parents to build their current home, which often hosts DeLeo family gatherings. After this extended “vacation,” Craig relocated the family to Kingman, Ariz., to work on mill design for the Mercator Mineral Park copper/molybdenum mine while remodeling their new home in his spare time.

In semi-retirement, Craig continued consulting and working on a historical home in Tucson. The family split their time between Tucson and Troy until Craig’s health started to decline.

Family members held a private service and burial at the DeLeo Family Cemetery in Troy. A memorial dinner will be scheduled in Arizona.

Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.