Harold "Hal" Smith
January 4th, 2015
SMITH, Harold
1944 – 2015
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Harold “Hal” G Smith on Sunday, January 4, 2015 in Water Valley, AB at the age of 70 years. Hal was born in Saskatoon, SK on December 26, 1944 to George C Smith and Lillian A Smith (Mierau). He had moved to Alberta with his family in 1992. At a young age, Hal joined the reserves and climbed the ranks to Captain. For many summers he enjoyed his leadership role at the Vernon, BC and Banff, AB cadet training camps. Most summers, he enjoyed holidays with his family in the mountains and would proudly point out the mountains he has climbed. His favorite of all was Cascade Mtn. Upon settling down with his young family, he began a long career with Ford Canada until his retirement.
Hal had many passions. In no order of priority, they included old cars (his favorite being his 1960 Thunderbird), coins and history. His thirst for knowledge drove him to accumulate a vast knowledge of all times across history but he really favored the Ancient Civilizations. He also delighted in travelling. Whether it was a Sunday drive to take his kids out to look for dinosaur bones, week holidays to the mountains, road trips to the states in record time or a European tour to satisfy his yearning to touch the history he had learned about; for Hal, travelling was more than time off work but about finding a way to teach us all to enjoy life to the fullest.
Hal will be remembered by many of his friends for his wit and loyalty, as well as the great times they had fishing and hunting. In his retirement, Hal and Sandy have enjoyed raising beautiful show Siberians. Hal took much pride in knowing they raised show quality pups with the love and devotion all breeders should have.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Sandra (Matheson); daughters, Shelley (Lee), Debbie (Vince) and Michelle (Chris); grandchildren, Shyan, Logan, Brandon, Trevor, Ashley, Alysha, Kaylee, Wesley; siblings, Carol (Ken), Robert (Louise); nieces and nephews Nicole, Kim, Adam and Leanne. Hal is predeceased by his parents, George and Lillian Smith.
Service will take place at the Cremona Congregations Church on Friday, January 23, 2014 at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Hal’s memory to Hal’s memorial bench in Banff, AB. If you would like to donate, please donate directly to the following website:
http://www.youcaring.com/memorial-fundraiser/memorial-bench/293057
or make a donation to the charity of your choice.
To Hal's family, especially his wife and children, I send my sincere condolence. Our loving Creator feels our pain when we lose a loved one to death. May you experience the comfort and peace that God provides at this most difficult time as He invites us to throw all our burden on Him and he will sustain us. Psalm 55:22. The resurrection hope is another loving provision from God. Revelation 20:13 tells us how extensive the resurrection will be: the sea, death and hell (the common grave of mankind, where there is no suffering) will deliver up the dead. That is just what we would expect from our merciful God. As we await the grand resurrection, when we will see out loved ones again, may you meditate on God's love and the promise that death, tears and sorrow will not be experienced in Paradise that Jesus spoke about at Luke 23:43. Overtime, as the family deals with their grief, may you find time to reflect on God's hope for our loved ones who have died.