Leo J. Smith

Leo J. Smith, 84 of Fort Myers passed away at his residence surrounded by his family and pets on Saturday, November 26, 2016. He was born on October 27, 1932, in Olean, New York and was the son of the late Forrest and Emma Nelson Smith. Leo served his country as a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force from 1951-1954. A member of the Melvin Cowart American Legion Post 274 in Fort Myers Beach, he was a proud veteran with a deep love for his country. After his military service, Leo was employed by IBM in Poughkeepsie, NY, as a service planner and customer service engineer. He became well known at work and within his family as the ‘one who could ﬁx anything’. He was a dedicated employee for 32 years who could be called upon at anytime to take an assignment and who won several service awards until his retirement in 1987. Leo married his wife in 1980 and was a devoted husband for 36 years. Originally living in upstate New York, he and his wife migrated to Fort Myers, Florida in 1996 then Spring City, Tennessee in 2002. They were snowbirds until September 2016, when they made the Terreverde Country Club community in Fort Myers their ﬁnal residence. Leo enjoyed a variety of hobbies and interests. In New York he was a farmer who tilled several acres of land, grew fruits, vegetables and Christmas trees and cared for two Appaloosa horses as well as a myriad of dogs and cats. Rarely did a day go by where he was not riding his tractor, planting or tending something in his garden, taking care of his home or tinkering in his wood shop. Having downsized when moving to Tennessee, Leo still managed to ﬁnd outdoor activities to keep him busy. He grew vegetables, maintained a beautiful home and enjoyed ﬁshing and boating off of the Watts Bar Lake. He still kept his hand in woodworking and singlehandedly built his boat house and storage shed. Both were meticulously built from scratch with an attention to detail and the utmost of quality. There were no shortcuts when Leo built anything as he followed the motto “If you’re going to do something, do it right the ﬁrst time and make sure it lasts forever.” When Leo and his wife moved to Florida and joined the Terreverde Country Club, they were embraced by the wonderful people who lived in the community. Lasting friendships were built during many days spent on the golf course or shared activities as well as during holiday meals and weekly clubhouse activities. Their deep friendships provided a close circle of special people who shared many things over the 20 years living within their supportive community. Leo was also a pet lover. He trained his two horses, Sundown and SoftTouch, on his own and merged his two labrador retrievers, Oscar and Hawkeye (aka Hawky) and cat, Bogey with his wife’s dog, Holly, and daughter’s dog, Brandy, to create the Smith animal menagerie. Rarely was there a time that a dog or cat was not following on his heals as he worked around his home. His beloved cats Miss Kitty and DC, of blessed memory, would often curl up in his lap for afternoon naps even though each cat intensely disliked the other. His sweet kitty, Miss Daisymae, will miss him greatly. Leo was a quietly, humble man with a deep sense of honesty and integrity. He had a strong work ethic and believed in doing everything to the best of one’s ability. He was a man who had a vast knowledge about so many things in life that far surpassed any formal training that he could have ever have obtained. He was often sought after for advice of all kinds and those who were given it found him to be gracious in the giving and straightforward in the telling. He will be remembered as an honorable serviceman, devoted husband, caring father and loyal friend whose laugh made all those who heard it smile. He will be sadly missed not only by his surviving family, but by his very close circle of Terreverde friends as well as all those who knew him over the years. Leo is survived by his devoted wife, Patricia Hamenia Smith, 3 daughters: Carolyn (Robert) Padilla of Ukon, OK, Susan Smith of Kingston, NY and Lynn (Larry) Spiro of Wilmington, NC; 2 sons Eric (Jeanette) Kindervater, of Aransas Pass, TX and Karl Kindervater of Northport, FL; 10 grandchildren: Bruce Maier, Sean Brust, Gary Brust, Rachel Adams, Monica Kindervater, Eric Kindervater III, Brian Kindervater, Josh Spiro, David Spiro and Nikolas Kindervater; 6 great grandchildren and 1 sister: Beverly Stamp of Watkins Glen, NY as well as many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by his son Leo J. Smith, Jr; 4 brothers: Victor Smith, Fred Smith, Frank Smith and Edwin Smith as well as 1 sister, Viola Winthrop. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00AM on Friday, December 2, 2016, at Our Lady of Light Catholic Community, Fort Myers, with Military Honors following. In lieu of ﬂowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Hope Hospice, 27200 Imperial Parkway, Bonita Springs, FL 34135 or the Melvin Cowart American Legion Post 274, POB 2456, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33932. Arrangements are being handle Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home.

Leo J. Smith

October 27, 1932 - November 26, 2016