Austin Garrett Smith was a loyal, dedicated, and driven man to his wife, family, friends, and community. He was born and raised in the small town of St. Paul, Oregon, by his parents Dave and Lisa Smith. He was the typical good-hearted small-town man, always willing to lend a hand, help a friend, or volunteer to make the community a better place for generations to come.

Austin was a generational hop farmer on the family farm alongside his dad, brother, uncle, and cousins. He represented the Oregon Hop Commission on their national Best Practices Committee, served as a director on the Hop Growers of America board, was a member of the West Coast Hop Breeding Program, and was in consideration for an officer of the Oregon Hop Growers Association. Austin served as president of both the local St. Paul Jaycees and the St. Paul Fire District. He was in the process of opening a taproom called The Harvester, which by the diligent work of many is now open. He did all this while maintaining relationships with family, friends, and community members and pursuing his hobbies of fishing, hunting, brewing and drinking beer, and spending summer days on the river.

Austin met his wife Ashley in 2015 at the St. Paul Rodeo. In Austin’s words: “In the wee hours of July 4th Austin finally met the woman of his dreams after a family friend mentioned earlier in the year this cute blonde nurse who was single. Fast forward to July 2nd, where he was playing fireman at the rodeo. Propped up next to Engine 755 and on the lookout for a woman, there she was, the girl he had creeped on social media for months. Little did Ashley know, this mystery man would contact her cousin the following night and tell her that he just had to meet her! The rest, as you know, is history…”

Austin and Ashley were married in October 2018 and started their life in the family home where he grew up. They wanted to start a family, and Ashley found out days after Austin passed that she was pregnant. Their sweet baby girl, August Grace Smith, was born happy and healthy on October 4, 2022, and came home on October 6, which would have been Austin and Ashley’s 4th wedding anniversary. Austin was a great gift giver, and he gave Ashley one last (and the absolute best) gift.

To know Austin was to love him. He had a witty sense of humor, a kind heart, and a dedication to every aspect of his life. He could have a conversation with anyone, and his presence was always known when he walked into a room. He had that light about him. His light will live on through his daughter, wife, family, friends, and everyone whose life he touched.