Nate passed peacefully on Wednesday January 19th, at Meadowview Villa in his 93rd. year. He will be greatly missed by his loving wife Velma Smith and family. He is predeceased by his parents Dorothy and Lyall Smith, his 3 brothers, 2 sisters and his daughter Dorothy Smith. Nate is survived and will be missed by his son James Smith and his stepchildren Colleen Arbeau (Don), Harold Parker (Kathy), Sharon Rollins (Doug), grandchildren Jesse, Alex, Evan, many nieces and nephews and his sister-in-law Olive Campbell. Captain Smith was born in Petrolia and moved with his family to Sarnia as a young boy and remained in the Sarnia area until the present time. He first went to sea at the age of 15 on the ship ‘Hamonic’. He left to return to school but after 2 years he went back to sea and has been a sailor ever since. He loved sailing and never looked back. He came aboard the ‘Imperial Sarnia’ in 1969 and acquired his mariners (Captain) papers in 1974. He loved his ship and his life on the Great Lakes. Nate lived life to the fullest. He and Velma enjoyed their trips to Mexico, Jamaica, Florida and British Columbia. He had a great sense of humour and loved to share his stories of being on the ships for 42 years. After retirement, he enjoyed many years on his yacht ‘Masters Plan’. He also loved his collection of antique cars and living alongside Lake Huron in his lake front home in Brights Grove. We want to thank all the staff of Meadowview Villa, Petrolia for their excellent and compassionate care of Nate over the last few years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society, through Smith Funeral Home in Sarnia in honour of ‘The Captain’. Due to COVID restrictions and concerns, there will be no visitation and no funeral. After a private family service, the Captain’s final resting place will be at Lakeview Cemetery, Sarnia.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Captain Nathan Lyall Smith March 1st 1929 January 19th 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Sarnia, Province: Ontario