James E. Smith Jr.

PAWTUCKET - James "Jay" E. Smith, Jr., 68, passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday, March 4, 2023, surrounded by his loving family.

He was the beloved husband of his high school sweetheart, Madalyn "Pat" (Vaslet) Smith for forty-eight beautiful years. Born in Central Falls, he was the son of the late James E., Sr., and Ruth (Crawley) Smith.

Jay graduated from Tolman High School, Pawtucket, in 1972 and attended Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, where he studied Engineering. He worked as an assistant civil engineer for the City of Pawtucket for thirty years prior to retiring in 2006. Jay was a board member and coach of the Pawtucket Slaterettes Girls' Baseball League for more than twenty-five years, and a member of the Tri-City Elks Lodge #14 of Warwick for over fifty years. He enjoyed a good game of High Low Jack with his family while camping, and was a diehard fan of New York football, "Go Giants!" Jay took great pride in being a Girl Scout dad and was eager to coach for all of his daughter's teams'. Aside from his hobbies and interests, Jay's greatest joy was being with his family and partaking in his children and grandchildren's sporting events.

In addition to his beloved wife, he is survived by two loving daughters, Bree Ayn Schebel and her husband, Matthew, of Seekonk, MA and Brittany Smith Vasquez and her husband, Dr. Juan Vasquez, of Branford, CT; three adoring grandchildren who called him "Gaga", Andrew James Schebel, Zachary Richard Schebel and Madalyn Claire Vasquez; his siblings, William Smith of Florida and Ruth Guthrie of Texas and he was "U.J." to two nieces who he affectionately referred to "my other two", Shana Menoche of Gloucester and Erin Perez of East Greenwich. He was also the uncle of nine other nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Colleen Akers.

His funeral will be held on Friday at 9:00 a.m. from WILLIAM W. TRIPP Funeral Home, 1008 Newport Ave., Pawtucket, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in St. Cecilia Church of St. John Paul II Parish, 755 Central Ave., Pawtucket. Interment will follow at Mount St. Mary Cemetery, Pawtucket. Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Pawtucket Slaterettes Girls' Baseball League, P.O. Box 3715, Pawtucket, RI 02861 would be appreciated.

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