David Francis Smith, beloved husband and father, passed away on July 21, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was 79 years old.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Rose Mary Smith, and was the proud father of two children, daughter Jennifer Smith-Mayo and son Francis John Smith (1971-2010).

His family also includes daughter-in-law Charity Smith; son-in-law Matthew Mayo; "second son" Mark Royer; grandson Michael Smith, his wife Kaylee Smith, and great-granddaughter Kate Smith; granddaughter Jaqueline Grogan; and his siblings, Laurie (Richard) Kaplan, Betty Siska, Mary Rini, Claire Smith Searles, Patricia (Nilo) Regojo, and Gerald (Cynthia) Smith; nephew Michael Siebert, as well as numerous other nephews, nieces, and cousins. And last but not least, his hunting dogs and companions: Chippy, Corky, Lady, Sady, and Annie.

David was born in Cleveland, Ohio, child of Spencer H. Smith and Ruth (Essell) Smith, and stepmother Eleanor Smith. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army and attained the rank of SP4 in 1966. Drafted in 1965, he served his tour of duty as a member of the Military Police in Germany.

Dave graduated Cathedral Latin High School in 1962. He began his career as a welder in Cleveland, then worked as a supervisor at A.M. Castle & Co. He and his wife, Rose Mary, refurbished a home in Lyndhurst before moving to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom in 1982 to own and operate the Irasburg General Store.

An avid lifelong sportsman and lover of the outdoors, David was most at home in the woods and waters of his favorite places, beginning with his native state of Ohio, waterfowling, game hunting, and fishing with family and friends, pursuits he later enjoyed in his adopted state of Vermont.

David was, for many years, a member of both Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, and the Ruffed Grouse Society. He was a co-founder of the Northeast Kingdom chapter of Trout Unlimited and was instrumental in the removal of the Number 11 dam on the Clyde River in Newport, Vermont, in 1994. For their efforts, they received the Golden Trout Award, the highest honor bestowed by Trout Unlimited. The effort also began a nationwide trend to decommission and remove outdated power dams impeding the repopulation of native fisheries.

Dave and Francis operated Northeast Kingdom Outfitters, guiding hunters and fishermen from all over the world with fly-fishing trips and upland bird hunts. In 2003 Dave and Francis earned the Guides of the Year Award by the Vermont Outdoor Guides Association. A man of many interests, Dave also earned his U.S. Coast Guard Captain's license, and was a master fly tyer, specializing in recent years in exquisitely crafted salmon flies, many tailored to the Clyde River, one of his favorite waterways.

Most of all, Dave will be remembered as a storyteller extraordinaire. He loved to laugh and make others do the same, holding court around the dinner table, on the river, or at deer camp with tales of his exploits. He was also a longtime fan of jazz, blues, and rock and roll—the louder the better. And he loved nothing more than to shoot the breeze with customers and friends at Wright's Sporting Goods.

Dave Smith will be missed, with a smile, by his vast and loving family and his even larger contingent of friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in David Smith's memory to the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative and Hospice Care: Office of Development Dartmouth-Hitchcock, One Medical Center Drive, HB 7070, Lebanon, NH 03756 (www.D-H.org/JackByrneCenter).

A private memorial will be held at the family's convenience.

Online condolences may be made at curtis-britch.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home & Cremation Service, locally family owned and operated.