Howard Smith

Howard died peacefully in Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building, on December 31, 2013. Born in Sambro on June 27, 1921, he was a son of Mable Gilkie and Frederick Smith. Howard was a veteran of WWII, performing escort duty as a gunnery officer between Newfoundland and Ireland on HMCS Drumheller and Peterborough, and patrolling the St. Lawrence on a Q boat. In 1943, Howard met the love of his life, Sadie MacMullen, through his best friend and future brother-in-law, Russell Hamm. Sadie and Howard were married in 1946. Following the end of the war, Howard studied carpentry, working initially for Lawrence Construction and under Rex Burgess, and later founding his own home building business. He was very proud of the homes he built, including all of his own and many others throughout the Fleming Heights area of Halifax and other parts of the city. In his later years, he enjoyed driving around inspecting homes under construction, having admiration for quality and a critical eye for shoddy workmanship. When the economic climate worsened around 1960, Howard turned to other labours, managing the Port Hawkesbury Motel for a few years and then joining L. E. Shaw Limited in 1963, where he worked in sales until his retirement in 1986. Howard enjoyed reminiscing about the many guests and dignitaries who stayed at the motel during his time as manager there, and was always a loyal company man who spoke fondly of the Shaw Family. Howard had a deep love of all things outdoors and sporting. He was an avid hunter of rabbit, pheasant, duck and deer and had many happy and often funny stories of sharing these endeavors with friends. He enjoyed both fly and deep sea (sword) fishing, and was as comfortable on the water as he was on land. In 1956 Howard took up a hobby that became a passion – competitive skeet and trap shooting. An accomplished marksman, Howard won many maritime championships. In his retirement, he took up golf for the first time, scoring a hole-in-one on a Par 3 course on more than one occasion, and often lamenting that he hadn’t started golfing earlier in his life. Camping was a favourite family activity for decades, from traveling with a tent or camper trailer to a more permanent set-up in Sherwood Forest Camping Park. Howard loved country and bluegrass music. He had numerous musician friends and enjoyed many an evening at home, playing the guitar with them and sharing some food and drink, and in later years, going to concerts by local artists and especially to hear his good friends, Alan Spinney, and the Spinney Brothers. Howard valued integrity and hard work, one of the last of a dying breed where a handshake was as good as a contract. A ‘man’s man’ but with a soft heart, Howard would easily tear up when speaking of his family or the things he admired (Yes, Dad, we noticed.) Howard was a vital man, sharp of mind, until he suffered a brain injury after a fall on October 30th. In the delirium following, he would speak of all the things he enjoyed as if they were there or happening – Sambro Island, lobster traps, Cape Breton, dogs, ducks, guns and musicians, assuring us that he was in a contented place. He is survived by Sadie, his wife of 67 years; beloved daughters, Donna (Wayne) Comeau, Denise (Colin Davey); cherished grandchildren Wayne (Lori) Comeau, Francesca and Olivia Rhodes; adored great grand-daughter Rebecca Comeau, all of Halifax; brother, Gerald Wagner, Whycocomagh and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by sister, Bertha and brother, Harold. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 3 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm in J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, (455-0531). Funeral service will be at 11 am on Saturday, January 4, 2014, in Emmanuel Anglican Church, 322 Herring Cove Road. To leave an online condolence please visit www.jasnowfuneralhome.com.