×

Stephen Edward Smith

Stephen Edward Smith, 79, of Keene, left this world peacefully on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at the Mercy Living Center in Tupper Lake.

Steve was born to Napoleon “Buck” Smith (aka the Old Man, which he fondly called his dad) and Anita LeClair Smith on July 30, 1941. He grew up in Keene surrounded by many relatives in the Little House on the Gilmore Hill Road. After high school, he joined the United States Army to serve our country proudly. Steve enjoyed a wide array of trades and hobbies, including auto mechanics, auto body, carpentry, masonry, gardening, maple syrup production and berry harvesting. He was pretty much a Jack of all trades, master of everything — as he said. Steve was also an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing in the Adirondack Mountains. He was a great storyteller, for those who didn’t know this, and was quite the comedian. He loved helping people, and most would say, “Steve would give you the shirt off his back, if you needed it, but not the hat off his head.” This was very true about Steve. One of Steve’s favorite things to do was play horseshoes with his uncles and cousins on the back hill or share a conversation over a cold beer in hand. (His hands were the size of bear paws, by the way.)

Steve was predeceased by his loving and patient wife Ada Hare Smith; his parents, “The Old Man” and Anita Leclair Smith; his beautiful sisters Shirley Dixon and Gracelyn Murphy; brother-in-law Patrick Murphy; his brother Tarry Wilcox and infant brother “Scottie” Smith, who went to heaven when his mom Anita passed away while pregnant with her fifth child. His most cherished companion, Remington, a beagle that never left his side.

Steve is survived by his sisters Martha “Marti” Hadley and her husband Leigh of Saranac Lake, Anita Smith of Savannah, Georgia, and Kristy McKoy and her husband Curtis of Raleigh, North Carolina; brother Travis Smith of Westport; brother-in-law Richard Dixon of Lake Placid; and sister-in-law Anita Wilcox of Lewis.

Steve loved and adored all his children: Michelle Smith and her companion James Howerton from Harkness, Michael Smith from Upper Jay, Matt Smith of Lake Placid, Mark Smith and his wife Lisa of Keene, Mitch Smith of Syracuse, Melvin Smith of Keene and Mary Smith of Lake Placid. All seven of Steve’s children have the initials M.M.S. How creative is that? Steve leaves 12 nieces and nephews along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which make for a large family, to say the least.

Funeral arrangements are being made by the children through Heald Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. A memorial service will be announced at a later date for Steve and his loving wife Ada, who passed away last year. They are together once again.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the North Country SPCA in Elizabethtown. Steve loved his dogs and would have wanted it that way. Rest in peace, Steve. Light a candle in his honor, or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.healdfuneralhomeinc.com.

Starting at $1.44/week.

Subscribe Today