Marcus E. Smith Jr.

GARDNER – Marcus E. Smith Jr., 80, of Gardner died Wednesday December 8, 2021 in Athol Hospital following a brief illness.

He was born in Gardner on November 26 1941, son of late Marcus E. Smith Sr & Violet (Rolf) Smith Yelle.  Marcus graduated from Narragansett Regional High School in1960 and served in the United States Navy from 1960 – 1964 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Randolph (CVS -15).  He was stationed at Naval Station Rota Spain – 1962 Recovery ship for Astronaut John Glen, steamed the Mediterranean, Western Atlantic as the Cuban crisis broke. The ship operated in the Caribbean from end of October through November.

Marcus retired from Hewlett Packard in Andover, MA after 30 years of Service in 2002.  He had worked at Digital Equipment, Compaq, Hewlett Packard, Digital in Westminster, Ma and Nashua, NH.  In previous years, he worked at Simplex Gardner, MA, Temple Stuart Co in Baldwinville, MA and Independent Lock Co Fitchburg, MA.

He leaves his wife of 53 years, Jane C. (LeBlanc) Smith; a brother, Ederson Smith of Clinton, CT,;  two sisters, Vivian Vuerich & her husband Armando of Erving MA and Joan Stone and her husband Gary of Nashville, TN.  He also leaves a sister-in-law, Shirley Smith of Holyoke, MA, Sister-in-law Carla Smith and husband Stanley of Phillipston, MA, and brothers-in-law, Arthur LeBlanc & Roger LeBlanc of South Royalston, MA as well as many nieces & nephews. Marcus was very fond of his late dog Susie.  He was predeceased by his father in 2003, his mother in 1969, brother Rev. John Smith in 2010. sister Marcia Mattos in 2021 and sister-in-law Karen LeBlanc 2020.

Marcus was an avid walker and hiker. He hiked many trails at Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey NH, Mt Watatic in Ashburnham, MA and the White Mountains of NH.  Marcus also loved to take pictures of family events and outdoor wildlife and scenery.

Military funeral services will be held Friday, December 17, 2021 at 1 P.M. in Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimers Association, 166 South River Road, Bedford, NH 03110 .

Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon is directing arrangements.

www.stone-ladeau.com