Marsden "Mars" Raymond Smith, 79, of Tigard, OR, passed away on May 13, 2026, after a courageous six-month battle with glioblastoma.

Please join us to share stories, memories, and to celebrate Marsden's life:

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Nordic Northwest at Nordia House 8800 SW Oleson Road Portland, OR 97223

Come ready to celebrate a life that was lived fully, humorously, and with tremendous love.

Born February 19, 1947, in Portland, he was the son of the late Walter Raymond and Julia Alexandra Manson Smith. Mars is survived by his wife of nearly 54 years, Elsa Castro Smith; daughters Karen Smith DeBolt (Robert) of Chicago, IL, and Christine Smith Griffiths (Jason) of Portland, OR; his adored grandsons, Grayson Marsden DeBolt and Alston James Griffiths; his brother, Richard Smith (Leonie) of Forest Grove, OR, and their son, Kevin; in-laws Paul and Marietta Luttrell of Albuquerque, NM, and their children, Lesley Maurer (Dominic) of Seattle, WA, Jana Luttrell (Andriy Smolyaninov) of New York, NY, and Monica Foster (Andrew) of Albuquerque, NM; and grandnieces and grandnephew Teresa, Bianca, Amelia, Ramona, and Marcos. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Roberto Castro Mendoza (Olga); his niece, Marcela Castro (Jorge); and a loving extended family of cousins in Bogotá, Colombia who affectionately knew him as "Marcelo."

Marsden grew up in North Portland and graduated from Roosevelt High School alongside lifelong friends Al Rose, Eddie Stites, and Emmett Chase (also known as, Terry Timmen). The boys spent their teenage years cruising past girls' houses whenever strategically necessary and smoking ill-advised Tiparillos at Beaver baseball games. In 1969, he graduated from Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon, where he was a proud member of the Delta Psi Delta fraternity. After graduation, Mars climbed Mt. Hood with college buddies with minimal equipment, because apparently in 1969, jeans counted as mountaineering gear and helmets were considered optional. At just 22 years old, he embarked on an adventure with the Peace Corps that would forever shape his life. From 1969 to 1971, he served in Panama, followed by an additional assignment in Colombia from 1971 to 1973. It was there that he met and married Elsa Castro Mendoza, lovingly known to him as "Gloria."

Mars was endlessly curious about the world and never afraid to share his opinions about it. His name appeared in print often as a regular contributor to The Oregonian's op-ed page. He was also an enthusiastic radio call-in personality who likely kept more than one host on their toes over the years.

In the last months of his life, he faced brain surgery and the devastating realities of Stage IV brain cancer with remarkable courage, stubborn determination, and humor. Even in the darkest moments, he showed his family, especially his grandsons, what it means to fight bravely and to focus on the positive.

Mars was known as "The Loose Cannon" to his grandsons, who affectionately coined the nickname for his habit of saying exactly what was on his mind and delivering jokes that didn't always entirely make sense, but somehow always made them laugh. He had a gift for inserting himself directly into the middle of all the action, especially in the kitchen during holiday meals when everyone else was trying to cook, despite having absolutely no immediate task to perform there himself. He never wanted to miss out on the fun, the conversation, or the people he loved. His niece Monica coined one of Marsden's most cherished nicknames: "Chongabunga," the name his nieces and their children lovingly called him for decades.

As Marsden's mobility became more limited, Elsa was his steady co-pilot, helping him navigate the world as he became more reliant on a walker. But they were never ones to sit still for long, and they continued to say yes to adventure whenever possible. They were consistently spontaneous, whether it was a Sunday drive, happy hour with friends, a trip to Washington, D.C., or making their way to see Old Faithful. More than once, a simple visit to the Oregon Coast turned into an overnight stay, complete with newly purchased pajamas and toothbrushes from a local beach shop. For Marsden and Elsa, even the smallest outing could become a vacation.

Mars did whatever it took to show up for his grandsons. He would navigate steep bleachers, uneven fields, long regatta days, and endless tournament weekends. He was never happier than when watching Grayson row or cheering for Alston at a football or basketball game. Attendance was never optional. He refused to sit on the sidelines. Ever.

Mars was the best kind of father: loving, practical, encouraging, and endlessly supportive. He raised his daughters to believe they could do absolutely anything. Before they were allowed to get their driver's licenses, they first had to learn how to drive a stick shift, change a tire, and check the oil. He believed competence was confidence, and those lessons stayed with them for life.

He loved ice cream, especially vanilla milkshakes, and proudly claimed the world record for eating the most Peanut Buster Parfaits at Dairy Queen in 1985 alongside his daughters and three favorite nieces. The official count was six. More impressively, Mars possessed what may have been his most unusual superpower: complete immunity to brain freeze. Scientists should probably study this.

The family offers heartfelt appreciation to Tupou Takau of Portland, OR, for the extraordinary care, devotion, and kindness she showed Mars during his final months. In lieu of flowers, Marsden's family invites those who wish to honor his memory to make a gift of gratitude in Tupou's honor. Those gifts can be sent to Christine Griffiths via Zelle (use christineagriffiths125@gmail.com) or Venmo link here: https://venmo.com/u/Christine-Griffiths-Smith

He leaves behind a family who adored him. He spent his life making sure he never missed out on what mattered: family, laughter, conversation, road trips, and enjoying a vanilla milkshake with the people he loved.

Arrangements have been entrusted to and are under the care and direction of the Vanston & James Funeral Home, Scranton, Pennsylvania. To express your sincere condolences to the family or share a fond memory, please visit jamesfamilyfunerals.com