FINIS SMITH OBITUARY

When Finis Smith was an 8 year old boy in Salina, KS he survived polio. While the episode impacted him for the remainder of his life he never complained or let it hold him back in any way. 70 years later he peacefully succumbed to the effects that illness left on his body after a valiant battle with compromised lungs at Marin Health. Finis was known to friends and loved ones for his comedic timing and multidisciplinary artistry, musical talent and hobbies. His mother, an established visual artist, instilled in him a prolific, unwavering and creative channel of expression which he nurtured and passed on to his offspring. He studied and played multiple instruments, and gathered and led a multitude of musicians to play regularly in his professionally designed home studio. When you put Finis near a piano it was only a matter of minutes before the setting became a party, regardless of whether or not he was invited to play. Finis had the ability to help us laugh at ourselves and find humor in everything. He entertained us and kept us laughing right up to his final breath.Strangers might have simply recognized Finis as the handsome guy with the full head of hair driving around Larkspur in one of the old cars he personally rebuilt (but never finished), oftentimes while playing a pocket trumpet, on his way to the community garden. In his own yard he planted and nurtured several fruit trees and had a deep connection with the earth.Nearly everything Finis possessed was built, bartered or previously owned. His curiosity was unrivaled and his appreciation for craftsmanship and unique old things kept him in constant pursuit even though it drove his wife mad. Finis' many passions were discovered and developed throughout his many moves in the earlier parts of his life. He spent periods in Kansas, Alaska, Southern and Northern California all before his family settled in Piedmont where he graduated from Piedmont High School. After receiving a Bachelor's Degree from San Francisco State University he traveled extensively throughout Europe and crewed a sailboat across the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to St. Lucia in the Caribbean. Once he eventually found his way home to Northern California, he settled in Marin County in 1974 and never looked back. He spent weekdays as a Securities Broker with a genuine interest in helping people. Once he was home, his myriad of other interests always reigned supreme. Not only was Finis a skilled musician, a DIY mechanic, a prolific collector, a deft gardener and a seasoned explorer he was, most importantly, a devoted husband and a loving father and grandfather. Finis is survived by his wife Judy, his daughters Alana and Nicole, his son Jesse, and his grandchildren Amani, Antonia, Rian, May and Oscar (5 months). Finis was larger than life. His shoes cannot be filled. May he rest in peace. A funeral service and celebration of life will be held at 11:30 AM on Friday, December 9th at Fernwood Cemetery, 301 Tennessee Valley Road, Mill Valley.

Published by Marin Independent Journal on Dec. 6, 2022.