Lots of softball both our daughters played lots and lots of breakfasts solving the problems of the world which we were good at then of course discussing our vets he was a very good friend in fact I met my lady thru him lots of really good memories 

Our dad loved classic cars and his corvette.   Remember him coming back from my sisters Softball tournament with 88 Monte Carlo SS, with idea that it should be my first car, he couldn't pass up a deal.    When Ernie was younger he was into racing cars, and had some real beauties.   Made a photo album a few years back and he really liked this collage of car pictures I put together.     The 65 GTO was his favorite and always talked of how he wish he kept it, and I did too.   He had a good story of the 55 Chevy catching on fire driving down I-75 and watching it burn then just taking license plate.     We went to drag races as kids, and always remember the rocket jet cars shaking the bleachers.  


I miss my Dad. The pain of losing your father never feels like it will fade and leaves an emptiness that you can not express. I want him to be remembered for the Dad and the person he was. He was always involved with our sports and traveling to games. We spent many days at Pembroke Lakes Optimist. I have many great memories on my Dad’s boat, either cruising, skiing, and whipping us around on a tube. One time up at my Grandparents house in Yalaha, Fl. we were out on the boat and it started to pour and we were all the way across the lake. He yelled get down and cover and went as fast as we could to the dock. It hurt like hell but was such an exciting moment as a kid. I vaguely remember trips to Colorado and snowmobiling, my brother always wanted to go with my Dad because he loved to go fast. My Dad loved camping, I have some really great pictures of our old camper when we were kids and camping at Lake Almanor with him and my husband and our kids, he loved to dance (he had great moves), he loved to work (he would always say, “never do anything half-assed”), he loved people (could strike up a conversation with 3+ people just going to the grocery store), he loved working in the yard and was proud of his dock and scenery, he always helped people if they needed a hand, and he loved his grandkids. 
One time my oldest son was giving him a hard time after telling him to put his seat belt on and Walker said, “no”. He said, Walker I love you and I don’t want you to get hurt. He told me later Walker can be difficult but it’s because he got all the attention before any other siblings and the only way to deal with that stubbornness is to show him love. My dad was thoughtful. I remember him telling me that when he picks out a card he has to read everyone before he picks the right one that helps him express his emotions. I miss those cards, I miss my talks about life with him, I miss my Dad.

I love this picture! My Dad with his grandson’s in his Members Only jacket.



Picture with Ernie in front of house we grew up in, we all played baseball or softball, but it was my sister in bottom left who went on to win World Championships which Ernie was so proud of.

Ernest loved this view when he came to visit us in Oregon.  

Ernest Hugh Smith was my father, was loved and is missed greatly by this family.     He was the son of Rita H. Farreny and Hugh Smith.   He will be survived by his son, Brian Hugh Smith married to Kathryn Doherty-Chapman, with son James Ernest Sherwood Smith who will carry his name onward.     His oldest daughter Kelly J. Mcgreal married to Marty McGreal with 4 children, Walker, Marley, Emma, and Mason.   His daughter Karen N. Rubel is married to Justin Rubel with her children Kate and Morgan Jean(MJ).     Our father raised three good kids who all went to college and/or military service, all in wonderful first marriages with total of 7 grandchildren.     My dad loved going out on his boat fishing, and one of our favorites was Chokoloskee where he went fishing as kid with his Uncle he was named after.   There is Key I'm planning to put some of his ashes at that we always liked to fish and where he wanted me to take him out too instead of dying in hospice on a bunch of drugs in front of a TV.   He wanted to see the sunset over the key and drift off.   Always seemed morbid until you see hospice.  He was the Dad, that didn't like us watching TV and never had cable growing up.   Memories of him singing 16 tons and wrestling me,  working with him from apartment buildings when I was a kid until he had me working under him at Port of Miami when he was Maintenance Director at the Port, before I went off to USAF.   He retired as building inspector for the City of Miami.    We always planned a yearly fishing trip and go on mini-road trips on Oregon Coast.     As with his mother Rita, who suffered Alzheimers we have to remember all the good times, and not the disease that consumed our father's mind in the end.   

OBITUARY

Ernest Hugh Smith

April 30, 1944 – December 26, 2019

Bailey Memorial

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