Gilmanton------William A. Smith, 77 of Griffin road, passed peacefully in his home Sunday evening surrounded by his family.
Bill was born in Colebrook on March 17, 1939 to the late George and Lillian (Higgins) Smith. Bill was a hard working and selfless man who spent his entire life taking care of his family and ensuring that they were happy. He had a tremendous sense of pride in all of their accomplishments and wasn't afraid to let everyone else know how proud he was.
Bill began his journey away from the north country by enlisting in the Marine Corp at a very young age. After being honorably discharged he came to the Lakes Region where he met his soul mate Alice. Bill worked in construction for several years before starting his own General Contracting business which he was very active in until he retired several years ago.
Bill is survived by his loving wife Alice (Babineau) Smith, his two children, William H. Smith and his wife, Jill Smith, and Penny Smith-Ferris. His grandchildren Ryan J Smith and his wife, Alicia Bean Smith, Arica (Smith) Caldwell and her husband, Jacob Caldwell, William R Ferris, and Sandra E Ferris; four great grandchildren, Colton and Chloe Smith and Jamison and Jayde Caldwell. He has left behind three brothers, Gordon, Howard and Roland Smith; one sister Regina Sweatt. He was predeceased by his brothers Kenneth, Glen, Fred, Larry and Donny, and his sister Avetta Thibeault and Helen as an infant.
E, that's what we called you, and it may have been the most simplest way to describe you. E stood for the endless love you gave your wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. It stood for the man that put a smile on every face he saw, which was an endless amount. If you saw him (you may have heard him first) he was either whistling, laughing, blowing his horn, or "bellering" at you. He certainly coined the phrase laughter is the best medicine.
E made you want to have a good day, he just had that way about him. He could be known for taking 10 trips into Laconia a day for nothing, multiple stops at dunkin donuts, being the milk bone man to all the pets, being the mayor of griffin road, stealing construction cones so we could play with them in the driveway, telling waitresses they can't make toast right, calling us all day long to see what we were doing, driving through town in January with his window down and arm hanging out, many people thought he couldn't afford a jacket but he just loved the cold, yelling at the wilderbeasts, the list could go on forever. What we are getting at is you being gone is a huge void that will never be filled, we will miss you everyday especially at 7pm when you always called us all. Your laughter will be something no one will ever forget and when something crazy happens to us we will know it's you getting the last laugh.
To forever and a day we love you E.
Please come help us celebrate the life E on Thursday, May 19, 2016 from 2-4 at his home on 15 Griffin Road, Gilmanton.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information or to sign an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.