Leroy Smith
October 16, 1937 - November 5, 2024
As published in the November 18, 2024 World-Spectator
On November 5, 2024, Leroy Smith of St. Paul, Alberta, formerly of Welwyn, Saskatchewan, passed away at the age of 87 years.
Dad was born on October 16, 1937 in Welwyn, Saskatchewan. He was the youngest of three boys to farmers Roy and Marg Smith.
His two older brothers, Garnet (Shirley) and Leighton (Marjie) provided numerous nieces and nephews whom he was proud to call family.
After graduation from high school and helping out on the farm, along with participating in many school and community sports, it was finally time to think about pursuing his occupation. Dad considered farming, but applied for the RCMP, the RCAF and University. Eventually Dad decided to attend post-secondary school at the University of Saskatoon in the Engineering program.
It was during this time that he met a lovely woman from Tantallon, Saskatchewan, Victorine Raymond (parents Tom and Josee Raymond), his soon to be bride of 67 years.
After marriage, on September 14, 1957, Dad switched to the Education program. It was during this time that the first child, Lee, arrived in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan in August 1958.
Once completing the Education program at the U of S, these hardy Saskatchewan farm kids accepted a Teaching position in Acme, Alberta, where the second child Calvin (Jennifer) arrived in Three Hills, Alberta in February, 1961.
After a short time in Acme, an opportunity to teach at a country school in Kathryn, Alberta, became available. It was here, while living in a teacherage, that Dad truly excelled.
After two years teaching in Kathryn, Dad applied for and was accepted as the Vice-Principal and eventually became Principal, keeping the school functioning smoothly, while he completed his Bachelor Degree in Education.
Aside from playing on the local men’s baseball team, he started coaching and refereeing in Kathryn’s High School programs, where they were able to win both the regional basketball and baseball finals.
During this time, their third child, Janelle (Maurice) arrived in Calgary, Alberta in March of 1963.
Missing the farm life, in 1969, Dad applied for a teaching position at Glen Avon in St. Paul, Alberta, a place that the family would truly call home.
After teaching for a year, a farm was found and purchased three miles north of town. A farm we called home until 1986, where after all the kids moved out, Dad and Mom downsized to an acreage in St. Edouard to be near the grandkids who lived a mile and a half north.
In 2001, they decided to downsize again and purchased a small home on the east side of St. Paul until 2023 where Mom and Dad moved into a Seniors’ Home.
While at Glen Avon, Dad continued his coaching and refereeing of school sports all the while teaching Grade 8 Science and Grade 9 Math. Again, after his first year of teaching, Dad applied for and was accepted as Vice-Principal of Glen Avon—a position he held until 1988, where he spent the remaining years as Principal until early retirement in 1993.
Upon retirement, while keeping busy on the acreage, he was asked to join the St. Paul Legion where he spent part of his time as Treasurer applying for grants and funding to assist in building the New Legion Hall.
Dad was always creative and mechanically inclined, but really enjoyed playing sports, especially baseball. Some notable teams dad played with were the Holar Saskatchewan Team, Keoma Alberta Men’s team and the St. Paul Alberta Men’s team, primarily as a pitcher. A couple highlights of his time playing baseball was having his eldest son Lee catch for him in St. Paul and being inducted in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall Of Fame as part of the Holar Saskatchewan Men’s Team—a very successful team in the early 50’s.
Dad loved the outdoors and shared these interests, skills and safety with his two sons and daughter, and eventually grandson and granddaughter on numerous hunting, fishing and camping trips. These trips included Mom’s delicious cake, with Dad always requesting lots of brown sugar icing to share with his family.
During retirement he would go hunting by himself, often sitting in the truck watching. On one occasion, the sun was warm, Dad fell asleep, only to wake up with a deer looking in the window at him. All he could do was roll the window down and say, “Boo!”
The farm was a perfect place to be outdoors. His love and passion for farm life was shared with his children, teaching them how to care for all the different animals, training animals, maintaining equipment, producing and cultivating crops, building and constructing, always with a Science and Math lesson.
Many trees were planted on the farm, as Dad believed in helping the environment.
Gardening continued throughout his life, with his last garden being planted in 2023. He was always available to help his neighbors on the farm and neighbors in town.
Dad was always proud of his grandchildren: Dorielle (Barry), a teacher, Alec (Meghan) a Warrant Officer with the PPCLI and Frankie, a Power Engineer in Australia along with his two great-grandchildren Zander and Lukas.
Dad’s wish was to be cremated with no services to be held. Instead of any formal services, we know that Dad would want everyone to love yourself, care for your families, be respectful of other people and that we are all in life together.
If you wish to donate, please donate to either Haying in the 30’s (Cancer Support Society) or the Heart & Stroke Foundation c/o 5626-51 Street, St. Paul, AB T0A 3A1.
To send condolences or watch Leroy’s video tribute online, please visit https://www.gracegardensfuneralchapel.com/obituary/leroy-smith/
Grace Gardens Funeral Chapel, 5626 - 51 Street, St. Paul, AB T0A 3A1 780-645-2677
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