Springhill, NS
November 24, 2024
It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Alfred Wardrope Smith on Sunday November 24, 2024 at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS.
Born in Springhill, he was the son of the last Percy B and Jeanne B (Colborne) Smith.
Alfred was a lifelong farmer, as was his father and grand-father before him. His late nephew Carl Fraser and he worked together for many years on the farm, and Carl became a "big brother" to the children Alfred and Arleen would eventually have. To support his large family, Alfred was also employed off the farm, including working for Leonard Boss and Son’s dairy in Rodney, and with the Department of Lands and Forestry.
In Alfred’s later years his son Stacy, and eventually his grand-son Brandon, joined him to continue to operate the farm. Though he slowed down some over the past 5 years, you could still find him helping out in the barn, walking the fields to check on the cattle, providing farming advice, cutting firewood, or driving a tractor at haying time, including this past summer.
While his children were growing up, Alfred and Arleen would pack the kids in the car to go for Sunday drives (no seatbelts required), often going down a dirt road or two to see where they would lead, or to spend time at Blue Sac with his large extended family. As his family grew, Alfred became a backup driver for many of his grand-children, ferrying them to their hobbies, or picking them up at school when someone was sick. And he was only a phone call away if one of his children needed him.
Over 10 years ago, Alfred suffered a massive heart attack. But it did not slow him down one bit. Alfred bought a Woodmeizer and started sawing lumber. And during the winter months, he was often getting up at three am to head out to clear many driveways for family members and customers, so they could get to work.
In recent years, Alfred and his wife Arleen, spent more time away from the farm, enjoying the summer property on the Bay of Fundy outside Parrsboro. However, they were seldom alone, often family members would drop in for an afternoon, or they brought their tent or trailer to spend a week-end, or a week. There were times when even 4 generations were together watching the tide come and go. Alfred enjoyed his cup of coffee…..with a touch of Baileys please, and on occasion a beer at a family function or while sitting around a bonfire in the evenings at the cottage; the last few years only the non-alcoholic kind. Alfred, accompanied but his wife, Arleen, also enjoyed exploring Nova Scotia, visiting Peggy’s Cove, selecting stones at Scot’s Bay (Arleen choosing, Alfred carrying), walking around Halls Harbour, walking the ocean floor at Burntcoat, exploring Walton on the western shore, and visiting his niece Linda and her husband in Cape Breton.
Alfred wasn’t into sports, but he became an avid fan of the Cumberland Blues hockey team here in Springhill attending many Friday night games, sometimes with children/grand-children alongside. He was also a voracious reader, swapping books with his nephew Harold, or borrowing books from the local library.
Alfred will be dearly missed by his wife of 65 years, Arleen Shirley (nee Hamel), his 5 children: Stephen (Lorrie), Susan, Stacy (Brenda), Chris (Annette), and Karen (Elmer), 13 grandchildren: Steven Allen, Jenna (Robert), Brandon (Bella), Rebecca (Patrick), Allison (Leslie), Devin (Bridget), Kyle (Hannah), Dylan (Bianca), Cameron (Oluwatomisin), Colby, Emilee (Brett), Faith (Michael), Breya, Gracin, Cali, Penelope, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by sisters: Helen, Leah, and Annie, brother William, nephews: Arlie, Carl, and Percy, step nephews: Gordon and Floyd, and step-niece, Trudy.
Special thanks and appreciation goes to Doctors, Nurses and staff of Urology Department of the QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax for your care and kindness
If so desired donations in Alfred's memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or the Canadian Red Cross.
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