BYBEE-Von I. Smith, well-known retired business owner and mail carrier, died suddenly early Wednesday morning. He was 79.

Smith and his wife, Carolyn, built the large, two-story building alongside Hwy. 160 in Bybee that has been home to Bybee Market since its opening in 1969. The Smiths resided upstairs over the business.

After their retirement from the grocery business, the Smiths continued to lease the business to other operators.

Smith also was a retired postal employee who carried the mail in the Bybee community for many years.

For more details, please see the Thursday edition of the Newport Plain Talk.