J. WESLEY SMITH

J. Wesley Smith, 88, of Fort Frances, Ont., passed away Friday, March 22, 2002 at La Verendrye Hospital in Fort Frances.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; sons, Norm and wife, Barbara, of London, Ont., and Ron and wife, Nicole, of Surrey, B.C.; and granddaughters, Stephanie, Heather, and Danielle.
Also surviving are his sister, Vivian Smith of Rainy River, Ont.; brothers, Gordon and wife, Irene, of Indiana, Calvin and wife, Lenore, of Oregon, and Victor and wife, Irene, of Washington; sister-in-law, Harriet of Kenora, Ont.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Wes was predeceased by his brother, Donald.
Wes was born Sept. 24, 1913 in Cleborne, Kan. to John and Ruth Smith. At the age of five, he moved with his parents, initially to the Minnedosa area of Manitoba and eventually in Rainy River. He worked as a butter maker at the Rainy River Creamery.
In 1942, he moved to Fort Frances and continued his career as a butter maker at the Canada Packers Creamery. He remained in this position until the creamery was sold in the early 1960s.
He then changed careers and was employed as a caretaker and maintenance worker by the Fort Frances Board of Education until his retirement in 1978.
Wes was a life member of Elks Lodge 313 in Fort Frances. For many years, he was an avid curler. One of his favourite pastimes was working with wood.
He loved being with his family and relished the time he could spend with his granddaughters—they were his greatest treasures.
Funeral service will be held Thursday, March 28, 2002 at 2 p.m. at the Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances. Friends may visit Wednesday, March 27, 2002 at Green Funeral Home from 7-9 p.m.
Rev. Marietta Marshall will officiate, with interment in Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances.
Pallbearers will be Dennis and Jorden Forbes, Pauli Heino, Ken Martin, Arnold Brown, and Eivend Haugo.
If friends so desire, donations in memory of Wesley Smith may be made to Riverside Health Care Facilities, 110 Victoria Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 2B3, or to Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children, c/o P.O. Box 102, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M5.