SHUSHAN, N.Y. - Harold E. "Abner" Smith, 72, of Shushan, passed away peacefully, Wednesday morning, May 5, 2010, at his residence following a brief illness.

Born July 22, 1937, in West Sandgate, Vt., Abner was the son of the late Edison and Helen (Nyrhinen) Smith.

He was a 1955 graduate of Cambridge High School. Abner and his brother, Harley were partners in S & H. Trucking for approximately 40 years, working many, many jobs in the local area. Abner retired in 1998.

He was a member of the Salem Fish & Game Club, Moose Lodge No. 994 of Lake Worth, Fla. and the Sons of the VFW Post No. 9528 in Okeechobee, Fla. He also enjoyed hunting, local history and loved drinking beer with his friends. He loved riding in the woods on his golf cart to watch the deer. Abner would do this daily just to look and enjoy the peacefulness of wildlife.

Abner and his wife, Sally, wintered in Okeechobee, Fla., where happy hour was held down by the water on the fishing dock. Many of the neighbor men would stopped by to visit and tell of the day's stories. Abner loved his family very much, especially his grandchildren and was proud of all the things that they had accomplished in their lives.

Abner is survived by his wife of 49 years, Sally Langlois Smith; his children, Linda Smith and her husband, Joe, of Okeechobee, Fla., Michael Smith of Las Vegas, Nev., Jim Smith and his wife, Debbie, of Sandgate, Vt., and Cathy H. Smith of Cambridge. He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Dorothy Dottie Smith of Shushan.

His grandchildren, Charles Lorenz, Macklind Lorenz, Alysha Gilliland, Amy Smith, Brittany Smith, Raymond Smith, Michelle Smith and Matt Smith; his step-grandchildren, Teigha Jennings, Amanda Jennings and Garth Jennings. Abner is also survived by seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by his sister, Claudia Smith Headwell who passed away July 1, 2003, and a brother, Harley F. Smith who passed away Sept. 21, 2005.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, May 7, 2010, at the Evergreen Cemetery in Salem with the Rev. Debbie Earthrowl officiating. Abner always wanted people to dress casual as he knew them, therefore his family requests that those attending the service to please dress casual. Following the service, Abners family invites everyone to join them for refreshments and to continue to share memories of Abner at the Fellowship Hall at the Salem United Methodist Church, 29 West Broadway, Salem.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested memorial contributions in memory of Harold E. Abner Smith be made to the Salem Fish & Game Club, P.O. Box 92, Salem, NY 12865.

The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of Washington County Hospice for the wonderful care given to Abner and his family during this most difficult time.