Gordon D. Smith

1955 - 2018

PUTNAM, CT - Gordon Douglas Smith, 63, passed away at home on May 19, 2018 after a valiant, positive, and uplifting battle with cancer. He was born March 9,1955, son of the late Winsor Smith and Lois (Adams) Smith. During his childhood, he attended Woonsocket schools and made lifelong friends with a group of loyal neighborhood kids. Gordon loved to share stories of the fun and high jinx that he and his friends would get into and, as their antics continued through their young adult years, he often started his stories with, "So we were having a few beers" and ended with, 'Thankfully, we knew all of the cops." Upon his high school graduation in 1973, he enlisted in the United States Army.
Though he planned on making a career in the Army, his dreams were cut short when he was severely injured in an army truck accident and was honorably discharged a short time later. Gordon went on to make a living driving tractor trailers which eventually led him to Synagro Technologies, where he worked for 27 years until he was forced to leave due to illness. Throughout those years, he displayed a work ethic second to no one and drove millions of miles accident free. On December 18, 2004, he married the love of his life, Lisa Blackmer-Smith. True to Gordon's trickster ways, they surprised everyone when they secretly arranged for a justice of the peace to arrive at a family Christmas party where they exchanged vows by the Christmas tree. As an experienced and keen motorcycle rider, Gordon traveled all over the United States on his bike. Though he owned a Harley Davidson, he was quick to tell people that it didn't matter what he rode, as long as the wheels rolled, and he could feel the wind in his face.
Gordon had a funny and often self-deprecating sense of humor and spent a lot of his life making those around him laugh. A jack of all trades, he was lovingly called MacGyver by his family because he could fix or build anything and often did so with next to nothing in supplies. Though riding his bike with his wife was his favorite pastime, he also enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids, kite flying, model trains, playing guitar and harmonica, jigsaw puzzles, singing, and mowing his lawn. He loved studying maps and knew every body of water and bridge over it and could tell you explicit directions on how to get to any state in the U.S. from his memory. Gordon's home away from home was on top of MT. Washington in New Hampshire. He knew every detail about the mountain and its Cog Railway. He knew as much about the mountain and railway as any historian and looked forward to his annual rides on his bike to the summit. He had a genuine love of life and greatly appreciated the smallest of things life had to offer. He was a loving and devoted husband to Lisa Blackmer-Smith whom he lovingly called his sweetheart. He loved the life that they created together and was so proud of their home in Putnam, CT.
In addition to his wife, Gordon also leaves behind his children, Joshua Smith and fiancé Ewelina and their daughter Isabella of Blackstone, MA, Lindsey Kudzal and husband Raun and their son Dustin of Putnam, CT, Michelle Bousquet and her partner Sean Smith of Thompson, CT, and Lauren Bousquet of Putnam, CT, all of whom took such loving care of him in his final days, and Courtney Smith of Cranston, Rl, his sisters Donna Bailey and husband Dean of Westerly Rl, and Lisa Smith of Westerly, Rl, and several nieces and nephews. Last, but not least, he leaves behind his spoiled and loving dogs, Harley and Shy whom he loved with all of his heart.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Gordon's family from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, 2018 in the Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St, Putnam, CT 06260. Memorial donations may be made to the Dorian J. Murray Foundation, P.O. Box 1225, Westerly, RI, 02891. For memorial guestbook visit www.GilmanAndValade.com.