OXFORD – Chester K. Smith Sr., 63, of Greene Street, Oxford, passed away Friday afternoon, May 11, 2007 at his home after a long illness.
Born in Cortlandville on June 15, 1943, Chet was the son of Ivan and Roselea (Wood) Smith, Sr. Growing up in Oxford, he attended the local schools. Chet was a hard worker all his life and held jobs in several different places, including the Iron and Brass Foundry in Greene and the Greene Central School. But the job he loved best was driving trucks, and he enjoyed the time he spent working for the Town of Greene and the Town of Smithville, where he was very proud to be able to drive the snow plow. Away from the job, Chet loved working on stock cars with his brother Larry, and watching NASCAR, especially his favorite driver, Jeff Gordon. A man who could be stubborn and always liked to have the last word, Chet was a giver, not a receiver, and was always there when his family needed him.
On Sept. 24, 1983, in Norwich, Chet married Bonnie LaBore. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Smith of Oxford; by his children and their spouses: Karen and Paul Roe of Greene, Chester K. Smith, Jr., of Norwich; Rebecca and William Willard, James Smith, and David Smith, all of Oxford; Francis Smith of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, and Barbara Smith of Oxford; and by 16 grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers and their wives: Ivan Jr. and Mary Smith of Pennsylvania, Lawrence and Donna Smith of Mt. Upton, Richard Smith of Lubbock, Texas, Paul and Laretta Smith of Cortland, Gerald and Linda Smith of Plymouth, Darrell and Sandy Smith of Smyrna, and Clyde and Diana Smith of Clinton, Mass.; by his sisters and their husbands: Roberta and Frank Miles of Norwich, Verna and Ron Black of Florida, Eleanor and Ted Perry of Sherburne, Hazel and Robert Cummings of Norwich, Grace Chamberlain of Plymouth, Glenda and Doug Whitehead of Oneonta, and Dorothy and Steve Perry of South Plymouth; and by numerous nieces and nephews. Chet was predeceased by his parents and his foster mother, Edith Clark; his twin brother Lester Smith and brother Roland Smith; and sisters-in-law Nancy and Beverly Smith.
Funeral services for Chet will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Penny Rahm, Pastor of the United Methodist Church of Greene, will officiate. Interment will follow in Riverview Cemetery of Oxford. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Chet’s family has requested that memorial contributions be sent to Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815.