Willard G. Smith

Willard Gordon Smith Jr. passed away on September 5th, 2023 at the age of 92. Born on September 3rd, 1931 to Willard Sr. and Marion (Nickerson) Smith, Bill was a proud 10th-generation Cape Codder and a lifelong resident of East Harwich.

As a young man, Bill served his country admirably, first in the Coast Guard and then in the United States Army. He loved to fly and worked on military aircraft during the Korean War. After his discharge from the Army, Bill was employed as a plumber’s assistant before going to work as a carpenter for E. Carleton Small Builders in Chatham. He retired from carpentry after twenty-seven years, but continued to use his skills to build fine furniture for his family. He also built intricate ship and airplane models, one of which is on display at the Coast Guard Heritage Museum in Barnstable. Bill enjoyed the outdoors, whether it was looking for treasures on the beach, going cranberry picking in the fall or sailing his Boston Whaler in the waters off Harwich and Pine Island, Florida. His hobbies also included working on crosswords, word searches and jigsaw puzzles.

Bill is survived by the love of his life and bride of fifty-eight years, Lois Ann (Harmon) Smith, and four children who he thought the world of: James Smith and wife Amy of Martinez, Georgia, Julie (Smith) Cauble and partner Stuart Eveland of Harwich, Pamela (Smith) Jansury and husband Edward of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Scott Smith and wife Meaghan of Harwich. He was the proud grandfather of Laurel, Timothy, Catherine, and Sarah Jansury, Lindsay and Andrew Smith, and Alyssa Broberg and Matthew Eveland. Bill also leaves behind his sister Jacqueline Oakes of East Harwich, his good friend Rob Bergh of Chatham, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife Margery (Melbye) Smith and his son Willard Gregory Smith.

Bill's services are private.

In lieu of flowers, Bill’s family kindly requests that donations be made in his name to Wild Care, 10 Smith Lane, Eastham, Massachusetts 02642 (wildcarecapecod.org), a cause Bill believed in and supported.