BUCKSPORT – Frank “F. Art” A. Smith Sr., 65, left this world at low tide, listening to the ocean waves with his granddaughter, Victoria’s, clay heart in his hand. He passed with the Lord by his side Nov. 16, 2007, at Stillwater Health-care’s new Sunset Room, Bangor. Frank was born Sept. 5, 1942, in Newcastle. He was the son of the late Arthur B. Smith of Newcastle and Edith Beryle (Fairbrother) Hagar of Bristol. Frank graduated from the School of Life, along with his late brother, Richard “Eightball” Smith, receiving a Bachelor of Science in art. He worked very hard for many years as a steeple-jack, repairing many of the church steeples you see across Maine, as well as repairing industrial chimneys, such as the ones at B & M Bean factory, Boston and the ones at Great Northern, East Millinocket. He worked with his brother, Seward, for a brief time at Smith Masonry Services and worked for 10 years at Lincoln Home as maintenance man as well as being self-employed doing claming, lobstering or bartering. He raised 12 children and had three wives. His recent passion was attending auctions and visiting with his friends, Steve and Erica Follette. For the past 10 years or so he traveled from Tennessee to Big Cove, New Brunswick, spending time with family and lots of friends, that he talked about often in his final days. He remembered these as special times. In addition to his father and brothers, he was predeceased by his second wife, Lillian Masse; and an infant daughter, Kelly Rose. He is survived, in addition to his mother; by two brothers, Kenneth Smith and his wife, Frances, of Sears-mont and Seward Smith and his wife, Barbara, of Bristol; two sisters, Evelyn Deardorff of California and Cindy Sykes and husband, Roy, of Bristol; 12 children, Deanna Thurston and her husband, Ron, of Hudson, Frank A. Smith Jr. of Bangor, Marjorie Smith Hewey of Levant, Judy Niles and her husband, Steve, of Bradford, Laura Smith of Eddington, David Wellman of Veazie, Carol Boucher of Belfast, Lana Baxter and her husband, wild-mild, Bill Baxter, of Stewart County, Tenn., Donald Smith of Stockton Springs, April Turner and her husband, Craig, of Montville, Elizabeth Macdonald and her husband, Dustin, of Thorndike and Adam Smith of Brooks; 19 grandchildren, Kayla, Joshua, Kyle, Daniel, Yolanda, Corey, Kristy, Chad, Victoria, Wyatt, Justin, Lacey, Paige, Casey, Westley, William, Zim, Lily and Elliot; three great-grandchildren, Mya Quinn, Landon and Logan Jackson; many special nieces and nephews. Special thanks to CancerCare of Maine, Vascular Care of Maine and the staff at Eastern Maine Medical Center, Stillwater Healthcare and Dr. Dara Rock. There will be a memorial service 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at Wells Hussey Legion Hall, Damariscotta. A graveside service will be held at Highland Cemetery, Damariscotta Mills, with Richard Newell officiating. The family invites relatives and friends to join them in a luncheon to be held after the services at Wells Hussey Legion Hall, Route 1, Damariscotta. Gifts in Frank’s memory may be made to Lights of Hope, care of Healthcare Charities, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME 04402. Arrangements by Memorial Alternatives, 205 Center St., Bangor.
FRANK ‘F. ART’ A. SMITH SR.
