Maurice ‘Smitty’ E. Smith Sr., 93

Maurice Smith

Maurice Smith

CUMBERLAND — Maurice “Smitty” E. Smith Sr., 93, passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House.
If a man is measured by what he leaves behind, then Smitty is a truly great man. Sunday, the world lost an amazing, loving, caring and funny, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Smitty was born in Jackson, N.H., on May 13, 1921, the son of Clifton Smith and Mabel (Johnson) Smith. At the age of 19, he married his true love, Geneva (Judy) in 1940 and together they set the world's standard for love, loyalty, and devotion to each other for the next 65 years. The family knows they are now holding hands again.
They moved to Portland where he began his 40-year career as a truck driver, first with Border Express and finally with Maine Freightways. He was proud of his work and proud to be a lifelong member of the Teamsters Union.
After Judy, Smitty’s greatest love was his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He also enjoyed many years of traveling with his wife to Hawaii, Alaska, and spending many years during the winter in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and summers in Jackson, N.H., greeting everyone he saw with a smile and a wave and always a special hug for every child who crossed his doorstep.
Smitty was an avid golfer, proud that he could remain competitive with those half his age. He played his last game in September of this year. Right up to the last year, he would spend hours walking nearby golf courses in the early morning light, hunting for golf balls. He could find dozens in a day where others found none. He would save the best for his family and friends and give the rest to area schools and driving ranges for practice. From the thousands that he found, he would keep the unique ones, displaying them on racks on his garage walls. He loved telling stories about each one in this museum-level collection.
It is very fitting that Smitty died on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day, as he was an honored and proud veteran of HYPERLINK "http://www.legacy.com/memorial-sites/ww2/?personid=173422951&affiliateID=1444"WWII.
He is survived and missed by his five children, Linda Brown of Old Orchard, Judy Elliott of Standish, Maurice Smith of Bloomington, Ind., Susan Pelletier of Sebago and Michael Smith of Sebago; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Elaine Farrugia of South Portland.
Smitty was predeceased by his wife Judy of 65 years in 2005; a granddaughter; as well as two brothers and three sisters.
There will a celebration of his life on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at 2 p.m., at Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. Please visit HYPERLINK "http://www.lindquistfuneralhome.com/"www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Smitty’s life and to share condolences, memories and tributes with his family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Smitty’s name to: Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, 180 U.S. Route One, Scarborough, ME 04074.