Donald J. Smith

MANCHESTER – Donald J. Smith, 92, died on March 29, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was born in Augusta on Sept. 4, 1930, the son of Egbert Smith and Estelle (Markle) Smith.

Mr. Smith attended Lincoln school of North Manchester for seven years, attended Longfellow school for 7th and 8th grade and walked four years to Cony High School in Augusta.

Mr. Smith joined the Army on Sept. 9, 1949 and served 40 months in the U.S. and Germany before his honorable discharge on Dec. 24, 1952, as sergeant first class.

He worked 25 years for Stewart and Williams, which later became the Salter Corporation. He then went on and worked for other labor union contractors for eight years, retiring from construction after 33 years. After leaving the construction business, he went on to work for Bates College as a groundskeeper, finally retiring at the age of 65.

Mr. Smith married the love of his life, Julia Crochere, on June 8, 1957, raising two daughters and one son.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing , raising bees, gardening, cutting wood and loved making maple syrup. He was a volunteer firefighter for 50 years, a member of Manchester Lions Club, the Historical Society Group and North Manchester Church, was president of the Manchester Area Senior Group, where he met the second love of his life, Gloria Sylvester. He was a great husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Julia Smith; four brothers, Harris, Isaac, Maine and Lee Smith; four sisters, Bessie Bragg, Bertie Gilman, Clara Lachance and Carrie Berry; a friend and brother-in-law, Curtis Berry and special friend, Gloria Sylvester.

Mr. Smith is survived by two daughters, Linda Pomerleau of Manchester and Sheila Cotnoir of Augusta; a son, Egbert Smith and his wife Roxanne of Manchester; seven grandchildren, Jessica Pomerleau of Augusta, Sarah Hickey and her companion William Ahearn, III of South Gardiner, Amanda Gilbert and her husband Dana of Chelsea, Michael Cotnoir and his wife Robyn of Hudson, Mass., Emily Prosser and her husband Kory of Manchester, Chad LeClair and his wife Alexandra of Augusta and Staci Leclair of Bowdoin; 10 great-grandchildren, Abigail and Ayden Hickey, Coleman, Rylee and Levi Gilbert, Giovanni and Lucas Cotnoir, Evelynn Julia Prosser and Kayley and Kayden LeClair; a brother, Ernie Smith of South China; as well as several nieces, nephews; great-nieces, great-nephews; and many friends.

Relatives and friends may visit on Friday, April 14 from 9-11 a.m. at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta where a funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Burial and committal prayers will take place later this spring in North Manchester Cemetery, Manchester.

Condolences, stories and photos may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Donald’s memory may be made to either:

North Manchester Meeting House

c/o of Carol Dudley,

285 Scribner Hill Rd.,

Manchester, ME 04351, or

Manchester Lions Club,

P.O. Box 1,

Manchester, ME 04351