Calvin Smith

Calvin Leroy Smith passed away peacefully at home on May 27th at the age of 81. “Cal” was born in Perryton, Texas on July 16, 1934 to Andrew and Eula Smith. He was the third of seven children. He spent his youth years picking cotton and farming in Texas, Oklahoma and California, as well as learning carpentry skills from an uncle in the Salton Sea area. Cal eventually found his way to Colorado where he met and married his lovely wife Cecelia Cundiff in 1953. Cal had many trades, including helping remodel the Durango-Silverton Train Station, working for VCA in 1953 until it closed, a quick stint as a lift operator at Purgatory, and general contracting. He eventually began his own family business, C. Smith Construction with his wife and son, Keith and retired in 2004.
Cal is survived by his wife of 62 years, Cecelia, four children: Joan Schumacher (Pat) of Durango; Carla Kimball (Danny) of Kirtland, New Mexico; Diana Piccoli (Jim) of Bayfield; and Keith Smith (Teri) of Bayfield, 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Cal’s greatest joy was to get as many of his family members together, for branding cattle, bucking bales, holiday celebrations and family milestones.
Anyone dropping by the family ranch was immediately embraced into Cal’s family. He enjoyed showing folks his many treasures including his prized ’37 Ford pickup he rebuilt with the help of his grandchildren, a ’77 orange Ford Bronco, and assorted treasures. A tour of the ranch was not complete until he fired up his 8N Ford tractor. One of his trademarks was the many turtle stools he made for friends and family.
A celebration of life will be held at 11:00am on June 4, 2016 at the Cundiff Family Home Place, 6071 C.R. 502, Bayfield, Colorado.
A heartfelt thank you to the staff at Hospice of Mercy. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Pine River Valley Heritage Society PO Box 1981 Bayfield, CO 81122.