Stafford Joseph Smith

It is with heartfelt sadness that our family announces the great loss of our Beloved son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, nephew and cousin, and friend who passed away suddenly on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at the age of 51 years.

Stafford was born in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario the oldest of 10 children. As our family says goodbye to Stafford our hearts are aching, but we know he is singing with the angels in heaven. He is home with Jesus. We love you Stafford and will forever miss you!

Death.

Death you've come to visit again

In a most unexpected way

And shocked me at your presence

As I saw you face to face

You steal the warmth of living

You cold and heartless one

And momentarily I'm taken aghast

And absolutely stunned

For you weren't called to visit

At such a time as this

I expected you at an older age

These thoughts I couldn't dismiss

I retreated in horror

O death what had you done

You robbed me of a treasure chest

In the taking of my son

For sure you sent me reeling

I had to leave the scene

And come to grips with the reality of

How surreal you're presence had been

But then grace gripped me tightly

I felt my Father's arms of love

Who comforted me instantaneously

And reminded me... "he's up above!"

So death you're a defeated foe

Yes you can shake us to the core

But I live with that glorious thought

One day you shall be no more

So pace around with bragging rights

As you continue on in your destruction

But greater is He who lives within me

The Lord Jesus my Resurrection!

And everyone who knows Him

As their personal Lord and Saviour

We'll live again in celebration with

The ones with whom with lived here

So with that thought in the forefront

I continue on in my life of faith

Living with the strength of the Lord

Who was "Victorious" over death!

© Gary James Smith December 19 2018 9:30AM

March 17, 1967 to December 12, 2018 winning over hearts and earning hard won admiration, even as You walked through the toughest of times. Stafford Smith Our Mountain Mover, King of Kijiji, Visionary, Tenacious, Resilient, Hard Worker, Master craftsman, Creative Genius, Innovative, Artist.


My Big Brother that was always ready with a listening ear. Always available for me to cry on his shoulder, to offer words of comfort, and advise. Who faced every challenge big or small and overcame each one in a BIG way! Transforming seemingly hopeless delapitated houses into beautifully restored homes. Beyond what anyone else could ever have imagined possible. Would look at circumstances and life with an optimism that exceeded the limitations of this world and society. Dismantling entire buildings and moving them across the province to then reassemble layer by layer piece by piece with excitement and passion. Enjoying the thrill of the challenge. Tracking down vehicles for cheap or free that had blown engines/transmissions destroyed interiors meant a Treasure Hunt was to be had at the nearest Pick and Pull. Tracking down each piece and part needed... engines... seats.... Full interiors. Then the hours of focus and intensity....most lasting long into the night to restore and create such a work of art that had people jumping at the chance to own it now that there was real, true value.... Plumbing, wiring, granite, tiles, painting, stained glass, woodwork, construction, sewing, drawing, the list is endless and You excelled in them all--

An absolute Treasure.... my biggest cheerleader, my Beautiful hearted, Generous, Loving and Kind Brother... There are not enough words... Paper. .... Ink...in all of this world to express all that you have meant to me or all that You have done selflessly... Through my heart and eyes... And even now Stafford my super hero Big Brother shows me that all along I WAS right he can do anything! Even when surrounded by darkness and cruelty he can soar and he can FLY!!!!!

Stafford, Our Mountain Mover © Stephanie Maione (sister) December 19 2018 12:32 pm

How do you wrestle with the reality that you never got to say goodbye? Our family lost a precious soul to heaven. We pray for a legacy left behind in the blessings of his bloodline to impact the world with love. For generations! For each one of them to succeed. To not settle. For them to rise up and be proud of who they are!! Pray for his children and grandchildren as they are discovering their destinies. Pray for all of us as we grieve his leaving too quickly. 


ABSENCE.

Ripping! Tearing!! No time to say goodbye. Just gone! Gone! 


No words to describe the absence of a person from this world to the next. To explain their life and breath quickly vanishing from your own life. No longer in sync or time. Gone to another dimension.


There’s an eruption from the deepest core of you. “NO!!” A groaning that has no voice. “NO!!!” You wail! You cry!! But it makes no difference. They are gone. A beautiful spirit released to heaven! 

© Stacey Collins (sister) December 14, 2018

Stafford is lovingly remembered by our family.

Stafford was preceded in death by his (brother) Stratton Philip Smith.

Stafford is survived by his children:

(son) Justin Gary Michael Smith and grandchildren Layla and Michael Mackenzie;

(daughter) Carrie Jennifer Lee Black and grandchildren Nya and Sofia Gutierrez and

(son) Austen Cole Jamieson.

He is survived by his dad and mom Gary and Linda Smith and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: in relation to Stafford:

(Sister) Stacey Collins and her husband John Collins and children Kirsten Collins Christian Collins, Crawford Collins and Karisma Collins;

(Sister) Stephanie Maione and her husband Steve Maione and children Dereck Maione, Samantha Maione, Julian Maione, Joshua Maione and Steven Maione;

(Brother) Stephen Smith;

(Sister) Starr-Ella Brunelle and her children Paxton Sutherland, Colton Sutherland, Maryann Smith and Olivea Brunelle;

(Sister) Stelena Nardi and her husband Keith Nardi and children Nathan Jaremko, Benjamin Jaremko, Kyle Nardi, Teija Nardi and Isabella Nardi;

(Sister) Sarah Hauser and her husband Levi Hauser and children Aedan Hauser and Hunter Hauser;

(Brother) Stuart Smith and partner Kaila Mackenzie and daughter Kaliyah Smith;

(Sister) Stryanna Smith