Frank. A. Smith, Sr., 65, of Bucksport, 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 on Nov. 16 at Stillwater Healthcare s new Sunset Room in Bangor.
He was born on Sept. 5, 1942 in Newcastle, 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 (Eight ball) Smith, receiving a B.S. degree 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 in Boston and the ones at Great Northern in E. Millinocket. He worked with his brother Seward for a brief time in Smith Masonry Services and worked for 10 years at Lincoln Home as a maintenance man, as well as being self-employed doing clamming, 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.
Over the past 10 years or so he traveled from Tennessee to Big Cove N.B., 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 brother, he is predeceased by his second wife, Lillian Masse, and infant daughter, Kelly Rose.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by brothers, Kenneth Smith and wife Frances of Searsmont, and Seward Smith and wife Barbara of Bristol; sisters, Evelyn Deardorff of California, and Cindy Sykes and husband Roy of Bristol; 12 children, Deanna Thurston and husband Ron of Hudson, Frank A. Smith, Jr. of Bangor, Marjory Smith Hewey of Levant, Judy Niles and husband Steve of Bradford, Laura Smith of Eddington, David Wellman of Veazie, Carol Boucher of Belfast, Lana Baxter and husband wild/mild Bill Baxter of Stewart County, Tenn., Donald Smith of Stockton Springs, April Turner and husband Craig of Montville, Elizabeth Macdonald and 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; great-grandchildren, Mya Quinn, and Landon, and Logan Jackson; and many special nieces and nephews.
Memorial service 11 a.m., Fri., Nov. 23 at the Wells Hussey Legion Hall, Damariscotta. A graveside service will follow at Highland Cemetery in Damariscotta Mills.
The family invites relatives and friends to join them in a luncheon to follow back at the Wells Hussey Legion Hall, Rt. 1, Damariscotta.
Arrangements made by Memorial Alternatives, 205 Center St., Bangor.
