Darrell Cliff Smith

February 6, 1955 - September 17, 2024

Darrell (Cliff) Smith passed away unexpectedly at the age of 69 on September 17, 2024, in the Humboldt General Hospital Emergency Room in Winnemucca, NV.
Cliff was born in Wenatchee, WA on February 6, 1955, the eldest of eight children to Harry and Evelyn Smith.
He and his family relocated to Osburn, ID in the late 1960s. He was a third generation underground miner, who started working with his father in his teens.
He had a career in underground mining that spanned over thirty years, as a miner and then as a leadman, working at most of the major mines in the western U.S. and Alaska.
He knew most everything there was to know about underground mining.
He used to say that he had a sixth sense when underground, that he could feel and hear the ground, or a cave-in before it would happen.
His mining knowledge and experience was sought after and trusted by many throughout the years.
In the late 1990s, Cliff took a short break from mining and moved to Coeur d'Alene, ID, to be near his dad.
It was there that he met the love of his life, Peggy, in the spring of 1997. They wed that winter and would have celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary this year.
Soon after their marriage, they relocated to Winnemucca NV, where Cliff returned to mining until his retirement from the Turquoise Ridge mine. Cliff and Peg had four children from previous marriages.
One son, Tracey (TJ), and three daughters, Amber, Misty, and Jaime.
Cliff led an incredibly full life, having experiences that some could only dream of.
From playing Little League baseball coached by his father to high school varsity wrestling, from water skiing to snow skiing, from rafting to four wheeling, from rebuilding engines to raising a barn, from line dancing to the two step, from riding his motorbike to riding his horse Blaze, from deep sea fishing off the coast of Alaska to hunting in the Pacific NW, from competing in demolition derbies to competing in mining competitions, from panning for gold to digging for clams, from parachuting from a plane to scuba diving in The Sound.
He loved running, jumping and grabbing the rope that swung him over his favorite swimming hole. He loved mechanics and working under the hood of a truck.
He loved welding, wood working, and tinkering in the garage. He loved coming up with new and inventive ways of doing things.
He loved gaining knowledge. He loved fishing. He loved being on the water and he longed to be in the sky.
He was partway through flight school for his pilot's license when it was cut short from a mining injury.
He loved space, the planets, and the stars, and even had stars named after himself and his wife.
He wished that he had pursued a career with NASA. Cliff was one of the best pool players you would ever find.
He played for a number of years in Winnemucca’s pool league, where he consistently stayed at the top of his game and had proudly held the title of Top Gun.
He also played a mean game of darts and shuffleboard. His favorite holiday was the Fourth of July, his favorite place was in the sunshine on the water, his favorite past time was fishing, his favorite food was a good rib steak, his favorite drink was diet pepsi, his favorite singer was Tom Petty, his favorite band was the Cars, and his favorite song was Free Bird.
He loved telling jokes and he loved doing impressions, from Yogi the Bear to Mortimer Snerd. Above all else, Cliff loved his family, every one of them.
He loved his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his siblings, his nieces and nephews. He loved the way his two year old great granddaughter would light up and run to him when she saw him, yelling "Pops, Pops, Hi Pops!"
His smile in return was the happiest ever, truly joyful. If you ever had the pleasure of coaxing a story out of him, then you know how much he loved to talk and how many stories he had to tell.
He knew so much about so much, and his past was full of friends, family, and adventures.
They were heartwarming, funny, thrilling, happy and sad. He had so many that he should have written a memoir to be enjoyed by others.
He loved to share his past with whomever would lend an ear. With memories so clear and detailed, it made his heart smile to be able to share and relive those memories again.
How we long to hear more of those stories, Cliff. We miss your voice, your face, your smile, your laughter, your sense of humor, your wisdom, your trust, your caring, your heart... so very, very much.
We love you, Cliff. Into heaven, God has welcomed a wonderful man home.
"You're as free as a bird now.... fly high... "
Cliff was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Evelyn Smith, his mother-in-law Jo Thompson, his oldest sister Robin Smith, and his youngest brother Mike Smith.
Cliff is survived by his wife Peggy Smith; his children Jaime (Jerry) Robinson, Misty Walker, Amber (Richard) Frank, and TJ Weingart; his grandchildren Madysen Frank, Briken Jenkins, and Rylie (Jesse Sharp) Frank; his great granddaughter Lylah Sharp; his brothers Ron (Sherri) Smith, and Jody Smith; his sisters Lyn Flatt, Suzie Abbott, and Christy Smith; his nieces Annine, Sara, Jessie, Makayla, Ashley, and Courtnee; his nephews Corey, Chad, Steven, Tom, Bubba, Quinn, and Cayden; and his furry best bud for nearly thirteen years, Mittzie :)
Private services will be held.