Obituary of Harry Smith

SMITH, J. Harry Welsford On a beautiful spring day...one of the kindest men that lived and absolutely the best chosen Father, ever, left us to go home to be with his mom and dad and his sisters...Harry was a very quiet man...but he was always up for a good trucking story or a coffee and treat at Meh's store...During his life he did many things. He was first and foremost a farmer, farming the large dairy and then beef farm that had been his parents and his grandparents and great grandparents before him in Hillsborough, Mabou Cape Breton. When his father had a heart attack at a young age, Harry took over the daily running of the farm...still giving his mom and dad the monthly milk cheque. He then took a job with his cousin, Keith Smith driving big trucks and doing long haul trucking which became his love. He often told the story of trying to negotiate a huge 18 wheeler down a very narrow road with a hairpin curve on the way to Meat Cove, Cape Breton...If you didn't like driving on the edge...that would not have been a trip to be on! Harry had two lives...the first in Mabou...where he grew up and farmed and worked in the woods and enjoyed the company of his cousins and school friends. Harry started his second life in August of 1999 at the age of 53 when he married his wife, Heather (Mulholland) and they began running a large B&B at the farm in Mabou...and looking after Harry's mother, Eva and Heather’s two sons, Patrick and Josh. Harry and Heather had a love for old homes (well maybe her more than him !!) but they set out to save a house or two in Mabou that was ready to fall down...and Harry discovered another talent...his ability to see what something could be...and so he would pick up his tool box and say to his wife..."What's next?". In 2009, Harry and Heather set out on a new adventure...after restoring a 200 year old home in River John...they decided to move there...and so a new life began…Heather started a singing group...(The West Branch singers) after the death of their son, Keith Barnard in 2010...and Harry discovered he could SING!! and sing he did...as the group grew from 18 members to over 40... But his real love was also discovering he loved doing carpentry work and when son, Josh decided that was what he intended to do...Harry joined him and in 2010...they began roofing and restoring old houses and Harry became Josh's best friend and instructor...and together they combined the best of experience and youthful energy! Every day was a new adventure...and later, son Patrick moved to River John and became part of the daily..." Can Harry give me some advice ?" or..." Is Harry around?"...then son, Matt came and needed Harry's sharp eye to look at jobs that he might do... Harry and neighbour Warren Jollimore made lots of trips to pick up things needed to work on the newest house project and together they travelled in Harry's truck listening to the radio and enjoying the time together. Harry loved his grandchildren...and particularly the youngest ones... Violet, Veya, Sophia, Keith and Sam, Faith Anne and Trey... His face would light up when they would arrive for a visit... He enjoyed George Jones and Meryl Haggard and loved singing along with them as he travelled in his truck getting supplies for the next work day. Harry loved to fish and so last summer, son Josh took him to Newfoundland supposedly to "fish"... however on the day they planned to go out it was very rough and as Ian Maclean stated..."I knew we were in big trouble when Harry took his teeth out and put them in his pocket!!" and so ended the big fishing adventure… (they caught several 7 inch trout in a brook!) Harry is survived by his loving wife, Heather;…her children,...Amy (Mark),…Becky (Phil),...Paul,…Matt (Francine),…Patrick (Kayla),…Josh (Nicole); beloved grandchildren, Violet, Nevaeh, Sophia, Keith, Sam, Faith Anne, Trey, Rachel, Nathan, Ben, Cairo and Jordan; Harry's daughter, Kimberly (Eugene); son, Stacey (Melissa);...their children,...Darrienne, Nathaniel, Mason, Zackary;...whom he loved dearly… His brother, Sonny (Tootsie); and many cousins and nieces and nephews. He leaves also his good farming friends in Mabou...Danford, David, Malcolm & Naomi and many more... He was predeceased by his mother and father, Eva and Nathaniel Smith; of Hillsborough and his sisters, Jean, Ruth and Carol;...and his stepsons, Mark & Keith Barnard; A celebration of Harry's life will be held at the West Branch United Church on Monday May, 27th...6-8 pm. Rev. Dr. Glen Matheson officiating, Come and join us...There will be food and friendship, and reminiscing. At 8pm...those who wish may walk with the family across the road to the West Branch Cemetery and take Harry home... He was much loved and will never be forgotten... He was every one’s friend...and as Lewis Wright said it so well..."Just seeing him at Meh’s in the morning, made the day start right"... He brought Joy into our lives with his kind and gentle ways... and great sadness now that he is gone. Donations in his memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation... and those who wish to send flowers... please bring flowers or greenery from your own gardens for the Celebration of Life... He would have liked that best... He is under the care and direction of McLaren Funeral Home, Pictou. There will be a second committal in Hillsborough, Mabou Cape Breton at a later date. www.mclarenfuneral.ca