Dennis R. Smith

SMITH, Dennis R., 61, Guilford, at Dover-Foxcroft, December 26, 2013. A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, January 3, at the United Methodist Church, Guilford. Arrangements are in the care of the Lary Funeral Home, Dover-Foxcroft.

    GUILFORD – Dennis R. Smith, 61, passed away December 26, 2013, at Hibbard Nursing Home, Dover-Foxcroft, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on May 18, 1952, in Dover-Foxcroft, the son of the late Myles E. Smith and Miriam (Flowers) Smith. He grew up in Dover-Foxcroft and attended local schools, graduating from Foxcroft Academy in 1970. He attended the University of Maine at Farmington.
    Dennis managed his family business, Smith Timberlands, Inc. from the time he returned to his hometown after college until he retired in 2005. He supervised the family timberlands, wood products brokerage, landscaping nursery, and Christmas tree operation for thirty years. In 1988, the lands he managed and co-owned were chosen as Maine and New England Outstanding Tree Farm.
    Dennis was elected as selectman of Sangerville for 10 years. For many years, he fulfilled his love for sports and children by mentoring and coaching t-ball and softball in Sangerville, and coaching middle school baseball in Guilford. When he wasn’t coaching, he could always be seen on the athletic fields supporting his three children.
    In 1978, he married the love of his life, Beth Elain Palmer, of Nobleboro, and they established their first home on Lawrence Street in Dover-Foxcroft. Soon thereafter, they moved to the family farm previously owned by his grandfather and grandmother Smith, to raise their family, thousands of Christmas trees, and Hereford cattle.
    Dennis was a loving and devoted family man and cherished his time with his family on the farm, at family retreats on Sebec Lake, many school events, and trips which they took.
    He is survived by his wife of thirty-five years, Beth; their children, Erin Louise Smith of Guilford, Benjamin Nicholas Smith and his wife, Leah of Hampden, and Kaitlin Palmer Smith of Guilford; his two grandchildren, Ella Smith and Lylla Smith; his mother, Miriam Smith of Dover-Foxcroft; brother and sister-in-law, Douglas M. and Cartha Smith of Dover-Foxcroft, and their children, Deron and wife, Vicky, and their son, Reagan of Glenburn, and Amy Smith of Portsmouth, NH; sister and brother-in-law, Pastor Virginia and Neil Gass of Sanford, and nephews, Joshua and Chip Reed; brother-in-law, Linwood Palmer III and his companion, Norma, of Nobleboro, and niece, Kendra Palmer from Portsmouth, NH; a special aunt, Ruth Flowers of Rhode Island; and numerous cousins and grand nephews. Dennis was blessed with many caring and devoted friends.
    A special thank you is extended to his loving caregivers in the special care unit at Hibbard Nursing Home.
    The family welcomes friends to visit and share in conversation from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, January 2, 2014, at Lary Funeral Home in Dover-Foxcroft. The celebration of Dennis’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, January 3, 2014, at the United Methodist Church, School St., Guilford, with Pastor Reeni Cipullo and Pastor Virginia Gass officiating. Burial will be in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to AFTD (Assoc. of Frontotemporal Degeneration), Radnor Station, Building 2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA 19087, or online at www.theaftd.org. Condolences and memories may be expressed at www.laryfuneralhome.com.