STUART F. SMITH, age 75, died Thursday, January 12, 2012 at his home in Dryden, NY. Stuart Friend Smith was born in Laconia, NH on May 11, 1936, the second child of Royal W. Smith and Verna Friend Smith. After graduation from the University of NH in Durham with a B.S. degree in Animal Husbandry, Stuart moved to Warsaw, NY. He was an assistant county agricultural agent for ten years. At this job he met and married his wife of 51 years, Kay Wolfe Smith. In 1966 Stuart earned his Masters degree in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University.
In 1968 Stuart moved his growing family from Warsaw to Dryden, NY to take a position at Cornell as a Cooperative Extension specialist in agricultural economics. He traveled throughout the state working with county agricultural agents and farmers sharing his knowledge and wisdom. In addition he spent time planning and conducting Income Tax Schools for tax accountants working on farm tax accounts. Stuart and Kay stayed in Dryden with their 5 children in the same home for the next 43 years.
Stuart was very active in the Dryden United Methodist Church. He held many leadership positions both locally and at the District level. He was a church Lay Leader and Lay Speaker conducting worship services when needed in the Dryden church and other area churches.
In retirement Stuart was able to enjoy his talent for woodworking producing many heirlooms for family and friends. Stuart was an avid gardener throughout his life and into his retirement. He shared the fruits of his labor with neighbors and the local Kitchen Cupboard as well as providing his family with abundance. He was often found on the Dryden Lake Golf Course or playing a hand of Bridge. Early in his retirement he was a consultant for Farm Net.
Stuart is survived by his wife Kay; 5 children- Gregory (Diana) Smith of Shelburne, VT, Arlette (Terrance) O’Keefe of Penfield, NY, Christopher (Dana) Smith of Marlborough, CT, Melinda (Greg) Tacconi of Chili, NY and Kimberley (Dwayne) Narayan of Jefferson, MD; and 12 grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers Royal W. Smith Jr. and Richard P. Smith and a sister Barbara Turner. Memorial services will be held at 2 PM, Saturday, January 14th, 2012 at the Dryden United Methodist Church with Rev. Richard Sivers officiating. Burial will be private in Green Hills Cemetery, Dryden. Friends are invited to greet the family at church after the memorial service. Memorial donations may be made to the Dryden United Methodist Church, PO Box 193, 2 North Street, Dryden, NY 13053. Perkins Funeral assisted the family. www.perkinsfuneralhome.com
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