Obituary for John E. "Jack" Smith
John E. "Jack" Smith, 91, husband of Georgie K. Smith, passed away November 21, 2018 after several years of declining health. Jack was born on November 20, 1927 in Waltham, MA to the late Eugene and Hazel Smith. He graduated from Waltham High School in 1946. He followed his father's footsteps and began his career in construction working for George W. Cheany.
In 1950 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and proudly served his country during the Korean War, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. After being wounded in action he was sent to a hospital in Japan, and his sister who worked in Boston placed a note on the bulletin board requesting letters be sent to cheer him up. A co-worker Patricia Powers responded, and she and Jack corresponded for several months. Upon his honorable discharge in 1952 he met Pat for the first time and they were married in 1953. They settled in Lincoln, MA where Jack built their first home and they raised their children Jimmy and Jackie. It was at this time that he began his own business, "John E. Smith Carpenter and Builder," later changed to J.E. Smith and Son Carpenters and Builders. He was a master craftsman who took great pride in his work, preferring to do things the right way, which was not always the easy way.
Jack was widowed in 1977, and in 1981 he married Georgie (Kilbourn) Smith. In the years that followed Jack (with help from Jim) built the home of their dreams at the family camp on Lake Boon in Stow, MA. Jack and Georgie enjoyed many good times together including vacations in Florida and trips to Alaska and Hawaii. Family parties at the lake were always a favorite.
Jack was an avid hockey fan, and for many years coached bantam hockey in Lincoln, where his coaching style was legendary, if not notorious. He was a member and former Commander of the American Legion Post in Lincoln, MA, and also service on the Board of Assessors in Stow, MA for over 20 years.
Jack was a generous, loving man who never hesitated to help others. He was a good friend to many. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tell a story or joke. He had a gift for always remembering punch lines and delivering them perfectly. He had a lengthy repertoire of "wisdoms" to live by, and was a master of pun.
He loved music and singing and dancing, and taught himself to play guitar and piano by ear. He was a true entertainer, at his latest performance at the Tugboat Lounge in Boothbay Harbor this past September his renditions of "Good Night Irene" and "Galway Bay" brought people to their feet.
Jack's greatest love, though, was his family to whom he was devoted and who in turn adored him. He is survived by his devoted wife of 37 years Georgie K. Smith of Stow, MA, his son James E. Smith and wife Joanne of Kingston, MA, his daughter Jacqueline A. Buckley and husband Michael of Southport, ME, his step-children Walter Studley and wife Sue of Shirley, MA, David Studley and wife Marlene of Mandeville, LA, and Kris Askin and husband Ron of Louisville, KY. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Richard Powers, sisters-in-law Emily Frothington and Leslie Nesky, nieces, nephews and their families. In addition to his parents and his first wife, Patricia (Powers) Smith, he was predeceased by his six siblings.
In later years Jack faced his declining health with courage and determination to do the very best he could, and he did so with grace and dignity. He was always grateful to family and friends who helped care for him, especially Georgie, and we are all grateful for the wonderful care provided to him by Cooperative Elder Services Adult Day Health, Emerson Transitional Care Unit and Parlin Hospice Residence.
Family and friends are invited to visit on Tuesday November 27th from 9:00-10:00am at the Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Ave (Rte 111) Acton. The funeral Mass will follow at 11:00am in St. Isidore's Church, 429 Great Road (Rte 117) Stow, with burial following in Lincoln (Lexington Road) Cemetery, Lincoln, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Stow Friends of the Council on Aging Inc., P.O. Box 97, Stow, MA 01775, notating on the memo line "In Memory of Jack Smith." Memorial page actonfuneralhome.com
In 1950 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and proudly served his country during the Korean War, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. After being wounded in action he was sent to a hospital in Japan, and his sister who worked in Boston placed a note on the bulletin board requesting letters be sent to cheer him up. A co-worker Patricia Powers responded, and she and Jack corresponded for several months. Upon his honorable discharge in 1952 he met Pat for the first time and they were married in 1953. They settled in Lincoln, MA where Jack built their first home and they raised their children Jimmy and Jackie. It was at this time that he began his own business, "John E. Smith Carpenter and Builder," later changed to J.E. Smith and Son Carpenters and Builders. He was a master craftsman who took great pride in his work, preferring to do things the right way, which was not always the easy way.
Jack was widowed in 1977, and in 1981 he married Georgie (Kilbourn) Smith. In the years that followed Jack (with help from Jim) built the home of their dreams at the family camp on Lake Boon in Stow, MA. Jack and Georgie enjoyed many good times together including vacations in Florida and trips to Alaska and Hawaii. Family parties at the lake were always a favorite.
Jack was an avid hockey fan, and for many years coached bantam hockey in Lincoln, where his coaching style was legendary, if not notorious. He was a member and former Commander of the American Legion Post in Lincoln, MA, and also service on the Board of Assessors in Stow, MA for over 20 years.
Jack was a generous, loving man who never hesitated to help others. He was a good friend to many. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tell a story or joke. He had a gift for always remembering punch lines and delivering them perfectly. He had a lengthy repertoire of "wisdoms" to live by, and was a master of pun.
He loved music and singing and dancing, and taught himself to play guitar and piano by ear. He was a true entertainer, at his latest performance at the Tugboat Lounge in Boothbay Harbor this past September his renditions of "Good Night Irene" and "Galway Bay" brought people to their feet.
Jack's greatest love, though, was his family to whom he was devoted and who in turn adored him. He is survived by his devoted wife of 37 years Georgie K. Smith of Stow, MA, his son James E. Smith and wife Joanne of Kingston, MA, his daughter Jacqueline A. Buckley and husband Michael of Southport, ME, his step-children Walter Studley and wife Sue of Shirley, MA, David Studley and wife Marlene of Mandeville, LA, and Kris Askin and husband Ron of Louisville, KY. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Richard Powers, sisters-in-law Emily Frothington and Leslie Nesky, nieces, nephews and their families. In addition to his parents and his first wife, Patricia (Powers) Smith, he was predeceased by his six siblings.
In later years Jack faced his declining health with courage and determination to do the very best he could, and he did so with grace and dignity. He was always grateful to family and friends who helped care for him, especially Georgie, and we are all grateful for the wonderful care provided to him by Cooperative Elder Services Adult Day Health, Emerson Transitional Care Unit and Parlin Hospice Residence.
Family and friends are invited to visit on Tuesday November 27th from 9:00-10:00am at the Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Ave (Rte 111) Acton. The funeral Mass will follow at 11:00am in St. Isidore's Church, 429 Great Road (Rte 117) Stow, with burial following in Lincoln (Lexington Road) Cemetery, Lincoln, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Stow Friends of the Council on Aging Inc., P.O. Box 97, Stow, MA 01775, notating on the memo line "In Memory of Jack Smith." Memorial page actonfuneralhome.com