Jim Smith

Jim Smith of Blenheim passed away peacefully at the Blenheim Community Village on Monday May 30, 2022.  Predeceased by his wife Mary Ellen (Zimmer) Smith in 2021, he will be missed by the people who meant most to him in life; his  daughters Deb Brown (Bob) and Marg Bliss (Jeff), his sons Ron Smith, Bill Smith (Kat) and Wayne Smith, his grandchildren Matt Brown (Melissa), Karyn Varma (Vic), Drew Bliss, Dan Bliss (Alex), Chris Smith, Tawnya Smith, Aaron Smith, Nichole Smith, Dylan Smith and Bailey Smith as well as nine great-grandchildren.  He will also be remembered by his sister Alberta Hunter (late Jack), his sister-in-law Kathy Smith (late Joe) and by Mary Ellen’s sisters Veronica Tanguay (late Ogie) and Ruth Ann Spence (Ben).  He was predeceased by his siblings Irene Carter (Harold), Grant Smith (Doris), Verna Gore (Phil), Glen Smith (Peggy), Herb Smith (Maxine), Nate Smith (Neva) and an infant sister.

Jim retired after many years as a custodian at BDHS in Blenheim.  He was a proud member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 185 in Blenheim and a member of the Colour Guard who loved nothing more than to don his kilt and march in a parade.  He got great joy out of being the center of attention when he played his accordion and harmonica for friends and family.

Jim was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting and trapping.  Aside from the annual fishing trip he and Mary Ellen would make to Manitoulin Island with Donna and Jim Burchiel, he raised rabbits, ducks and geese in his back yard and raced pigeons.  Racing pigeons involved taking your birds to the club so that they could be transported to a new location and released with other racers.  Then you would go back home to wait for your birds to arrive.  When your pigeons made their way home, it became a race of your own to clock your time and be the first to call everybody else with your news.  Those were great times for him.

Cremation has taken place.  A Funeral Service for Jim will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Thursday June 2, 2022 at 1:30 p.m.  Interment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery.

Friends wishing to remember Jim with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters, the Blenheim Legion or the Rondeau Rod & Gun Club. A memorial video of Jim’s life can be viewed from the following link:https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/WHK44CQPBNSMC2X7