Smith

Tatterson Wolcott Smith, 71, of Montpelier, Idaho, died Friday of cancer.

He was born March 25, 1936, in Shelbourne Falls, Mass., to Kenneth W. and Betty T. Smith. The family later moved to Norwich, N.Y., and then to Butler, where he spent most of his childhood.

Tat graduated from Butler High School in 1954 and Pennsylvania State University in 1958 with a B.S. in Forestry.

He served in the Marine Reserves and the U.S. Army and fulfilled his childhood dream, making a career with the U.S. Forest Service from 1958 to 1998. He was a forester in several districts and settled in Montpelier in 1962 when he became the district ranger for the Caribou National Forest.

Tat was very involved in his community, church and various organizations such as the Snowmobilers of Bear Lake, Caribou, and Franklin Counties, the local chapter of the VFW and Veterans where he was awarded the 1988 Man of Year, and was instrumental in developing the history and heritage of the National Oregon/California Trail and contributed to the construction of the Center.

Tat was an Eagle Scout and Chief of the Unilacthigo Lodge of the Order of the Arrow. He loved his grandchildren and all outdoor activities.

He is survived by his wife, Grace Matthews; two sons, Thomas Wolcott (Renee) of West Jordan, Utah, and Stephen Kenneth of Holladay, Utah; two stepsons, Laird Legrand (Wendy) of West Jordan and Brad Legrand (deceased); 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a brother, Gilman W. Smith of Colorado; a sister, Judith S. Brandberg of South Carolina, and six nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his ex-wife, Elizabeth Joyce Papworth.

<B>SMITH</B> — Visitation and services for Tatterson Wolcott Smith, who died Friday, Dec. 7, 2007, were today at the Oregon Trail Center in Montpelier. Interment was at the Montpelier Cemetery.Arrangements were handled by <B>Matthews Mortuary</B>, Montpelier.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bear Lake County EMTs in his name.