Leo Lane Smith

Leo L. Smith (March 11, 1932 - January 30, 2021) Leo was born in Boise City, Oklahoma in heart of the dust bowl and the depths of the Great Depression. Leo’s mother and father, Floyd and Edna Smith and his uncle Truman Smith all moved to Chama, New Mexico in 1936. As so many farmers and ranchers were forced to do, they left their land that was ravaged by the Dust Bowl years and moved to find work and new lives. It was some of the worst hard times in America. Leo well remembered how bad things were and the hardships that his family endured and finding a new start in the mountains of northern New Mexico. What a difference from the blown-out panhandle of Oklahoma to the mountains and beauty of the Chama area. The work was still hard. While their father, Floyd, operated the Sargent Dairy, Leo and his brother milked cows morning and evening and delivered milk to people in the area. Leo was the oldest brother, followed by Dean, Perry, and Wayne. Leo continued to work all through his youth and attended school in Chama, graduating in 1950 in the top two of his graduating class. There were two graduates that year and he never said if he was Valedictorian or not. In 1952, Leo joined the US Navy during the Korean War and served until 1956 with an Honorable Discharge. Leo married the love of his life Arta Knighton, in 1953 and she moved to San Diego where Leo was stationed with the Navy. After his discharge in from the Navy in 1956, Leo and Arta returned to Chama and Leo went to work for the New Mexico Game & Fish Department. Leo made many long and lasting friendships while serving as Game Warden in Chama. His ability, integrity and personal credibility caught the eye of Grady Vaughn Sr., the owner of Chama Land and Cattle Company. In 1959, Leo was hired by Mr. Vaughn as the General Manager of Chama Land and Cattle Company, a position he served in for the next 32 years. Leo worked closely with Mr. Vaughn to plan, develop, and implement improvements and a vision for the ranch. Leo was visionary in his management and leadership for the ranch and the Vaughn ownership. When Leo started with Chama Land, it had the acreage and the beauty but needed lots of improvement and sophisticated management. Leo provided that. As the ranch wildlife and hunting operations grew and flourished into an internationally acclaimed operation, Leo and Arta became the face and a major reason for the success because of their management, hospitality, and personal commitment to excellence. After retiring in 1990, Leo and Arta stayed in Chama, the community they loved and grew up in until 2005, when they built a beautiful home in Edgewood. Eventually, after Arta died, Leo sold that home and moved to live with Kelly and Doug at their place NE of Stanley. Leo loved the ranch, his community, and the state, but more than anything, he and Arta loved their family and friends. Leo was a bank director many years for First National Bank of Rio Arriba, a Sunwest Bank; a State Fair Commissioner for 18 years, serving through three Governors; he served locally as a Board Member for the Dunham Clinic, he was an active member of New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, and a Director and member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Leo is survived by his and Arta’s children: Karlyn Bates of Edgewood, Kerry (Bud) Smith of Ruidoso Downs, Kelly Smith and husband Doug Foster of Stanley, Kristi Bonnell and husband Joel of Glencoe, and grandchildren Kaylyn, Harley, and Shawn. Leo requested he and Arta be inurned together at Fort Stanton State Veterans Cemetery. Military Honors followed by a Celebration of Remembrance will take place on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. Arta C. Smith (March 16, 1935 - July 28, 2012) Arta C. Knighton was born in Hutchinson, Kansas; March 16, 1935 and died July 28, 2012, in Edgewood, New Mexico. Arta and her parents Roy and Ruby Knighton moved to Chama when Arta was a baby to escape the Dust Bowl just as Leo’s family had. Arta had developed dust pneumonia as a baby and her family had to relocate. The mountains of Chama turned out to be good for her health and her life. Arta’s mother became very ill after the family moved to Chama, and as a young girl Arta had to assume the work of caring for her mother, helping her father and doing the work of the home. After her mother died, Arta went back to Kansas to live with family until she graduated from High School. Arta graduated from High School in Great Bend, Kansas in 1953 and returned to marry Leo in Chama in 1953. Leo was already in the Navy, serving during the Korean War. Arta moved to San Diego right after they were married to be with Leo, as she always was from thereon. When Leo received his Honorable Discharge, they returned to Chama to start their civilian life and family. When Grady Vaughn, Sr. hired Leo to manage Chama Land and Cattle Company, he did not realize that he was also getting an equally capable managing partner in Arta. Arta and Leo moved to the ranch where they raised their family and together, built the ranch into an outstanding operation. Together they led the development and growth of Chama Land into a large and sophisticated cattle ranch, then into a premier, world-class wildlife operation. Additionally, she helped plan, design, and bring to reality the beautiful Lodge to complement all the beauty and hospitality of the ranch as a resort destination. Arta was not only Leo’s outstanding assistant, she was an equal part of the chemistry and management that created and constantly improved the ranch. She handled many responsibilities including bookkeeping, reservations, sales and hostess for the many guests, visitors and friends. To many guests and visitors, Arta was the face of Chama Land and Cattle Company. Arta also served her community as a volunteer and leader in many ways. She was a state leader for the Sangre de Cristo Girl Scouts Council and often sponsored camps. She was always an active parent, community member, and volunteer serving the Chama Valley School District. She was fully Leo’s partner in all the directorships, board roles and associations he served, and she was as involved in making them successful, as was Leo. However, her greatest love and success was being a great mother, wife, cook and homemaker. She also had many friends and cherished their friendships. She genuinely enjoyed life to the fullest and always lit up the room or outdoor gathering with her beauty, cheerful laugh, and special personality. Arta is survived by her and Leo’s children: Karlyn Bates of Edgewood, Kerry (Bud) Smith of Ruidoso Downs, Kelly Smith and husband Doug Foster of Stanley, Kristi Bonnell and husband Joel of Glencoe, and grandchildren Kaylyn, Harley, and Shawn. Per Leo’s wishes, she will be inurned with him at Fort Stanton State Veterans Cemetery Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 10:00 A.M.