LaVeta Violet Smith, 97, Nevada, MO passed away on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at her home in Nevada. LaVeta was born May 27, 1927 in Byron, OK to Floyd Herman and Edith M. (Sayre) Clepper. She was united in marriage to Douglas Wallace Smith on September 21, 1947 in Cherokee, OK and he preceded her in death on April 18, 1999.
LaVeta was raised in Byron and graduated from Byron High School Class of 1945. She came to Nevada in 1968 where she worked at the Nevada Country Club for 10 years, then worked for Medicalodges Nevada for 27 years until retiring in 2000. LaVeta enjoyed puzzles, listening to Country Music, and crocheting pillows. She was member of the American Legion in Nevada.
Survivors include five children, Toni Copeland (Bill), Creighton, MO, Terry Smith (Dottie), Nevada, Jimmy Smith (Cindy), Nevada, Jeri Smith, Nevada, and Shauna Horn, Nevada; 11 grandchildren, Gari Waugh, Abbi Haak, Telly Miles, Bradley Copeland, Bryan Copeland, Ian Smith, Mandy Thomas, Matthew Smith, Trevor Smith, Jaiden Cherry, and Hannah Horn; 12 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Lloyd Clepper, Cherokee, OK; one niece and two nephews. In addition to her husband, Douglas, she was preceded in death by her parents, and an infant son, Douglas Joe Smith.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at Bethel Cemetery in Amorita, OK. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials contributions are suggested in her name to Meals on Wheels c/o Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.
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A Nevada man is believed to have suffered a deadly fall while climbing in Oregon.
He’s been identified as 77-year-old Robert Pickering.
Search and rescue crews say they found his body along Mount Washington, northwest of Bend, according to a social media post from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
A climbing guide reported hearing a rockslide near the summit after Pickering passed his group.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office was one of several groups that assisted in the search.
RENO, Nev. – A homicide suspect from Montana took their own life on Thursday night after police surrounded their car in northwest Reno, reports KTVN 2 News Nevada.
The incident happened in the area of Sharlands Avenue around 9 p.m., according to a spokesperson for the Reno Police Department.
Officers located the suspect and surrounded their car, blocking them in. They then heard a single gunshot and backed away.
Reinforcements were called, and a drone was brought in by UNRPD. It was then confirmed the suspect was in their car, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the news agency reports.
The suspect has not been identified pending the notification of next of kin, and no additional information has been released at this time.
In addition to the Reno Police Department, the Regional Narcotics Unit and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
The investigation is ongoing.
MESQUITE (KTNV) — A deadly crash on Interstate 15 near Mesquite prompted a group of bystanders to spring into action before first responders could arrive, pulling a man from a burning motor home after a collision with a semi-truck.
Steven Grossman, a retired Army National Guard veteran, said he was driving northbound on I-15 after a Fourth of July camping trip with his family when he saw a motor home cross the center median from the southbound lanes.
“It was like a pile of dust, it was going across the center medium and down that big hill,” Grossman said.
WATCH | Nevada bystanders pull crash victim from burning motorhome on I-15 near Mesquite
Nevada bystanders pull crash victim from burning motorhome on I-15 near Mesquite
Nevada State Police Highway Patrol said the motor home had a blown tire. When it crossed the median, it crashed into a semi-truck and burst into flames.
Grossman said he immediately pulled over and ran toward the fire.
“I seen it on fire and, you know, we just, I just got out of the truck and just ran over there,” Grossman said.
NSP
Several other drivers also pulled over. Together, they worked to pull the motor home’s driver to safety.
“Let’s grab him and get him out of here. So we just grabbed him and just tugged him into the gutter right there, into the center medium,” Grossman said.
A propane tank exploded shortly after.
Grossman used his military medical training to keep the man still, while another bystander helped stabilize the victim’s neck until paramedics arrived.
NSP
The driver of the motor home, 62-year-old Gregory Louis Painter, later died at the hospital. Fire officials said 3 other people were taken to the hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.
Grossman said he does not consider himself a hero and that stopping to help was simply the right thing to do.
KTNV
“We were just the first ones there that if the next people that were the first ones there would have done the same thing,” Grossman said. “Same thing with behind them if it was 10 cars behind me, the cars behind them would have taken care of it. It’s just I think it’s just our human nature. People just want to help.”
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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