CANTON — Daniel J. Smith, 89, of Canton, died peacefully Sunday, Feb. 19, at the Victorian Villa Nursing Home.

He was born in North Heath, Mass., Dec. 30, 1922, the eighth of nine children to K. Paul and Edith (Gilbert) Smith. He received his education in the one-room Branch School in Heath and he worked on the family farm until 1946, when he moved to a large dairy farm in Williamstown, Mass.

After several years of milking cows, he went on to work on a milk delivery route for eight years. In 1965, he moved to Maine, where he worked at Berry Hill Orchard Co. and later at SAD 21 as a bus driver/custodian of the Canton school, retiring in 1984.

On April 5, 1969, he married Helen Cox in Canton, where they lived until 1988, when they moved to Chesterville, returning to Canton in 2004. He was a member, deacon and trustee of the Canton United Baptist Church.

Dan enjoyed telling the story of being snowbound from Jan. 19 to March 19, 1936, in North Heath, Mass. He enjoyed the maple syrup season, camping, hunting, gardening and spending time with the grandchildren.

He is survived by a sister; two brothers; a stepdaughter, Jackie Conant and her husband, Norris; stepdaughter-in-law, Linda Cox; stepgrandsons, John Conant and his wife, Jennifer, Tony Conant, Andy Conant and his wife, Amanda and Daniel Cox; stepgranddaughter, Erin Cox; five stepgreat-grandchildren; he was Uncle Danny to many surviving nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife, Helen; one sister; four brothers; a stepson, David Cox; and a stepgranddaughter, Pamela C. Fleury.

Condolences, memories, and tributes may be shared on his memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.