It is with great sadness that the family of James (Jim)
Archibald Smith announce his passing on July 5, 2020 at the Oromocto
Public Hospital, Oromocto, New Brunswick. Jim was 91 years
of age and was born in St. Eleanors, P.E.I on December 29,
1928.
He was predeceased by his parents William and Doris
(Lockhart) Smith, his wife of 58 years, Elsie (Nickerson), son-in-law
Robert Estey and his two sisters Shirley (Wilkins) and Vera (Mosher).
Jim will be sadly missed by his daughter Evie Estey,
Whitehorse, Yukon, his sons Edward (Wendy) Fredericton, Donald Smith,
Edmonton, Alberta and his stepson Eldridge Nickerson (Caroyln), Cape
Sable Island, Nova Scotia. His grand-daughters Kelly (Scott), Jill and
Kathy (Rob) and his three great- granddaughters; Isabella, Gabrielle
and Zoe. He always wanted to know how those
“girlies” were and
“The Old Black Dog”, “Buddy”!
He will also be missed and fondly remembered by his dear friend Roy
Dickinson and the camp buddies.
He was Jamie to his family, Jim/Jimmy in his adult life,
Slippery Smith at the track and later to be dubbed “The
Legend”; his response back to you was, “You got that right
Big Boy”! Jim had a very storied life. He was most
proud of the 40 years he worked for Tractors and Equipment.
His title, “mechanic”, he relished in telling stories of all
the CAT engines he repaired and the great people he met along the
way. Jim had the utmost respect for the owner, Mr. Campbell,
and held him in very high regard. One could say Jim was the
“original company man”. Jim was a well known horse owner and
driver at the Fredericton Raceway. His first race was in
1946 and he bought his first race horse, “Bobby Lee Volo” in
1951. Jim owned and trained somewhere between 75 and 80 horses. After
some 68 years in the sport, Jim retired from racing at 80 years
old. Commemorating 60 years as owner, trainer and driver at
the Fredericton Raceway he was inducted to the “Fredericton
Raceway Hall of Fame” May 4, 2007. Next on his story
list was the many trips he and Elsie made to the Yukon to visit their
daughter Evie and stopping in Edmonton to visit their son Don. Driving
across Canada in the summers and flying in the winters. They
loved being their own “pioneers”. Although his
favorite place was his hunting and fishing camp near
Doaktown. He was often quoted as saying, “this was the
best money I ever spent” as he looked off the deck and down the
river. Jim loved hockey and he always boasted about the
years he coached his son Ed and the Racers Edge Hockey
Team.
Jim was past President and Honorary Director of the
Fredericton Exhibition Ltd., past Director of the Fredericton
Horseman’s Association, a longtime member of both the United States
Trotting Association and Standard Bred Canada, past member and
Honorary Director of Agriculture Society 34. Jim was also
past President of the International Order of Odd fellows; Victoria
Lodge no. 13.
The family would like to thank the Doctors and Nurses of 4NE,
DECH and the Doctors and Nurses of Med 1 Unit, OPH for all the calls,
face time and the care and understanding you provided to Jim and to us
during this very trying time with the COVID-19
restrictions.
We are so grateful for the wonderful staff of the Gagetown
Special Care Home for providing Jim with a great home, great care and
love. As you all said, “He was one of a
kind”!
Bishops Funeral Home, 540 Woodstock Road, have been entrusted
with the arrangements. Visitations will be held on Thursday July
9th from 2-4 and 7-9pm. Staff from Bishops will
be on hand to assure that the current Covid-19 restrictions and social
distancing practices are being followed. A committal service
will be held on Friday July 10th at 2pm at the
Rural Extension Cemetery, Fredericton NB.
For those who wish, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s
Association of Fredericton.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of James Jim Smith 19282020..
Death notice for the town of: Fredericton, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick