Obituaries

St. Petersburg, FL- Wendell O. Smith, 91, formerly of Detroit, Maine and a resident of Concordia Manor Home, died, Monday, March 1, 2010, after a short illness. Wendell was born on May 11, 1918, in Mars Hill, Maine, the son of Montford and Velma (Rundstrom) Smith.

Wendell attended school in Mars Hill and proudly served his country in the Army as an MP during WWII. He worked as a dairy farmer in Detroit, Maine, for 50 years before retiring.

He was a past member of the Meridian #125 Masonic Lodge, AF & AM, active in 4H Leadership and participated in many small town amateur vaudeville productions.  He enjoyed trout fishing, working in the woods, animals, puzzles and game playing.  Every year he would attend the basketball tournaments in Bangor to cheer on the Central Aroostook High School Team.  He was excellent at animal husbandry.  Although untrained, his cattle were sought after by many.  He was an extremely generous man, giving freely when he had little.  Although his life was often hard and poor in terms of money, he was for the most part untroubled by life’s challenges, taking each day for what it was, seldom complaining.  He was egalitarian in his social outlook, conversing with anyone and everyone, wealthy or vagabond, as they happened into his path.  He borrowed his simple philosophy from Popeye, often quoting him, “I yam what I yam, and that’s all what I yam.”

He is survived by his daughter, Wendy Foley Smith of South Portland; his sons, Dana Smith and his wife, Rachel, of Weaverville, NC and James Smith and his partner, Steve Martin, of Boise, Idaho; five grandchildren, Ami Porter, Patrick Graves, Drew Athearn, Shawn Athearn, and Adam Smith; two great grandchildren, Nathaniel Porter and Samuel Porter and two sisters, Ruby Ryder and Edna Millie.

He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Pearl Foley Smith.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, March 6, 2010, at the Shorey-Nichols Funeral Home, 191 Hartland Ave., Pittsfield with Rev. Albert Thibault officiating.  A Masonic Service will take place during the funeral ceremony.  There will be full military honors presented for serving his country.

To leave a message of kindness for the family please visit www.shoreynichols.com

Interment will be in the spring at the Village Cemetery, Route 220, in Detroit.

Care for the Smith family has been provided by Shorey-Nichols Funeral Home, Pittsfield.