Nancy Lee Smith

Nancy Lee Smith (nee Houchens) passed away peacefully in Kenora, Ontario, with family by her side on August 18, 2026, the age of 87 years old. Nancy was born in Bloomington, Illinois on September 21, 1938 to Virginia Faye Burcham and James Otto Houchens. She was the oldest of three children. She was predeceased by her “Mother and Daddy”, her brother James Reid Houchens, husband Kenneth Smith, and her second husband Jay Lane. She is survived by the love of her life, Robert Alexander, sister Mary Houchens-Weitzel, sons Alan (Joanie) and Eric (Kim), along with her grandchildren Karen (John), Ethan, Mac (Paige), and Reid (Amber). She was a great grandmother to three beautiful girls - Callie, Daisy, and Violet. She will be missed by her nieces and nephews, and many extended family members, friends, and guests of Smith Camps.

Nancy was born and raised in Bloomington, Illinois, where she met and wed Kenneth Smith, and gave birth to sons Alan and Eric. She and Ken spent their honeymoon on Lake of the Woods in the mid 1950s, which led to the eventual purchase of Heenan Point and building of Smith Camps in the late 1960s. They left family and friends behind in Illinois to pursue their dream of owning a tourist camp, which became fully operational in 1970. Building Smith Camps from the ground up was a labour of love, and was not without its hardships. With the passing of Ken in 1977, Nancy was left to raise their boys and run the business, saying “we’ll give it one more year”. The camp is still running over 55 years later, which is a testament to her determination, grit, and inner strength. If you knew Nancy, you knew she was the epitome of hospitality, with her ability to serve delicious meals, set a beautiful table, and host family, friends, and guests with grace (and a mason jar of scotch to keep her going). Many of her memorable dishes are still talked about, specifically her cornbread casserole. To keep busy in the winters, she was involved in the Kenora Lake of the Woods Lions Club, acting as club President one year, a member of Knox United Church, and an avid bridge player.

Later, Nancy met Bob Alexander, of Illinois, and together they traveled and enjoyed time with family and friends across North America. Their many winters in Rincon de Guayabitos, Mexico led to a deep love of Mexican food, culture, decor, and mispronounced Spanish words. She enjoyed shopping at local Mexican markets, and was always seen in the silver and turquoise jewelry she had purchased along the way. Together, she and Bob hosted a number of family visits, which included deep-sea fishing trips in their boat, lively happy hours, and dinners with friends. When not in Mexico, they travelled throughout the U.S. and up to Alaska. Her travels were inspiring to her, and she would come home with new ideas, new recipes, and many souvenirs.

Nancy loved her grandchildren immensely and spoiled them rotten. She valued her time with them and had a great sense of humour and a lot of patience. She was their confidant and often let them bend rules their parents had set, all while instilling high expectations and a strong work ethic. Her spunky, adventurous spirit led to her snowmobiling through Yellowstone National Park, attempting to ride a dirtbike because the kids wanted her to, fishing, and of course, travelling. This lives on in her grandchildren who all have a love of adventure, travel, and a great sense of humour.

The family wishes to thank everyone at Pinecrest Home for the Aged in Kenora, who supported Nancy through her long battle with dementia. They are eternally grateful to those who cared for Nancy throughout her four year stay. A Celebration of Life will be planned for summer 2027.