EAST MONMOUTH – Russell V. Smith, 95, passed away at his home in East Monmouth, April 17, as a result of kidney disease.

He was born in East Monmouth on Nov. 30, 1908, the son of Washington and Mary Nichols Smith.

A lifetime resident of East Monmouth, he was a dairy farmer until the homestead burned in November of 1977. He continued to farm – haying, and raising heifers and goats for many more years. Being in the hayfield was a way of life that he continued to enjoy until after his 90th birthday. He loved his home and never traveled very far or for very long.

He enjoyed hunting trips as a young man to the Madrid and Phillips area. He also hunted in Washington and Aroostook Counties. His only trip out of state was with his brother Stanley to the Boston Market to sell a truckload of cucumbers.

As a young man, Russell worked the farm, hunted, trapped, cut ice, and worked in the woods as well as other various jobs. A lifelong learner, he enjoyed watching the news and discussing current events, and was rarely without his newspaper or weekly magazine. He was a devoted Republican and voted in every presidential election once he was able to vote.

He graduated in 1926 from Monmouth Academy as valedictorian of his class. He was a proud graduate and enjoyed attending the Alumni Association’s annual meeting in August and was often the oldest graduate present at the meeting.

He was a lifelong member of the East Monmouth Methodist Church. As a young man he attended church regularly until the time of worship interfered with milking time. In his youth he was awarded a Bible for perfect attendance in Sunday School. He was recently awarded the Boston Post Cane on his 95th birthday as the oldest male resident of Monmouth.

He is survived by a niece, Phyllis (Smith) Ambrose and her husband George Franklin Ambrose of Turner; a grandniece, Brenda (Smith) Leighton, her husband Don, and their children, Darren and Nicole of Lewiston; and a grandnephew, Gilbert Smith and his wife Denise of Monmouth.

He is also survived by many cousins, including Ruth (Smith) Travers and her brothers and sisters; Amber (Smith) McCabe and her brothers and sisters; Ben Smith and Ivan Smith and their brothers and sister.

He will be greatly missed by his friend, cousin and caregiver, Noni Prince and her family; as well as longtime friend, neighbor and hunting partner, Vic Bilodeau and his family. Always appreciative of the care he received from the team at Kennebec Kidney Center, Russell enjoyed and was grateful for the rides to and from dialysis given by family and friends. He did not like to be a “bother” to anyone.

He leaves behind an appreciation of the gifts that life itself presents – a cup of hot tea (with an ice cube added), time spent with farm animals, a love of nature, church suppers, Saturday night beans, a fine hunting day in November, and good hay weather.

He was a gentle, humorous, unassuming, down-to-earth man who was not one to complain and taught us many things with very few words. We will remember that, to Russell, life was always “pretty fair.”