Retired Grays Harbor County Undersheriff, Harold Lee Smith, well known in the community as “Smitty”, passed away on December 8th, 2022. Smitty was born on August 14th, 1936 to Herb Truitt and Daisy Dickason. He was raised in Hoquiam and graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1964.

After serving his country in the National Guard, Smitty worked for Weyerhaeuser Pulp Mill up until switching careers to serve as a deputy at Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Department. After spending many years there he then went back to work at Weyerhaeuser. Smitty had a love for working as a sheriff which is why went back a second time, serving a total of 25 years with the last 4 of them as the Undersheriff for the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Department before retiring. He graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Justice (1984).

After retiring, he moved to Wenatchee where he spent his time at his church, Sage Hills, and loving on his two little dogs. Smitty was a life member of the NRA and was very active in hunting and fishing. He was very knowledgeable and passionate about anything guns, he could restore any aspect of the newest and oldest ones.

Smitty is preceded in death by his parents Herb Truitt and Daisy Smith; step-son Scott Oldham; brother Robert Doyle Smith; and nephew Richard Smith. He is survived by many including his daughter Peggy Smith (Hal) Williamson and stepdaughters Tanya Rogers, Tiffany Joines, and Laura (Kelly) Rhinehart; son Gilbert Lee Smith and step-son Keith Hliboki; sister Margaret Maki; uncle C.F. “Fred” Dickason; niece Kimberly Maki De La Cruz; nephews Robert and Joseph “Fred” Smith; and grandchildren Betony Simpson, Aaron, Anthony, and Weston Williamson, Kayla Binford; Juliette Roberts, Hunter and Shanda Smith, Sierra Church, Roman and Grant Joines, Zach, Josh, and Sara Rhinehart.