JACKSONVILLE, N.C. – James Lee Smith, 77, passed away Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Jacksonville N.C. He was born on Dec. 29, 1943, in Parkman, Maine, to the late Irene Smith Strickland and Leamon Smith.

Jim served in the U.S. Army from 1962-1964. On Sept. 5, 1964, he married Lucille Barbara Clark and together they had one son and one daughter. When Jim returned from his enlistment in the Army he returned to his job in the tannery. Over the next several years he worked in the tannery and various shoe shops. Eventually he changed careers from shoe manufacturing to carpentry. He worked for Scott paper company in Winslow Maine for many years. One of the highlights of his carpentry career was being the superintendent of carpenters on the building of the nuclear power plant in Seabrook New Hampshire. During his retirement Jim enjoyed gardening with his wife Lucille and together opened their own greenhouse. He also enjoyed making wooden crafts in his workshop. He also enjoyed studying the Bible.

In the early 2000s Jim and his wife Lucille moved to North Carolina. Jim was a jokester and never met a stranger. Everyone Jim touched loved him. He will be missed.

He is survived by his loving and faithful wife and soulmate Anna M. Stadler Stangl Smith of Pennsylvania, a son, Randy and his wife Dawn of Jacksonville, N.C., a daughter, Cindy Booker and her husband Tim of Skowhegan, grandson, James Smith of Jacksonville, N.C.; granddaughter, Natasha Witham of Skowhegan, granddaughter, Ashley Booker of Fort Wayne, Ind.; grandson, Logan Smith of Jacksonville, N.C., and granddaughter, Amy Booker of Skowhegan. He is also survived by a great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Smith of Jacksonville, North Carolina, and a great-grandson, Preston Smith of Jacksonville, N.C.; he is also survived by his stepchildren, Jenny Stangl of Crambemy Twp, Pa., Stephen Stangl and Patty of Gibsonia, Pa., Theresa Podolak of Gibsonia and Gregg Stangl wife Emely of Dallas, Texas, and stepgrandchildren and great-stepgrandchildren.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, Leamon and Irene Smith Strickland, his first wife of 47 years, Lucille B. Smith, a grandson, Daniel Smith and his dear friend, Uncle Dan.

Jim will be interred at a later date in Fairview Cemetery in Canaan, Maine.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Smart and Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine, fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at http://www.SmartandEdwardsFH.com for the SMITH family.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to the American Cancer Society at

http://www.cancer.org.