Shirley B. Smith

Shirley Bennett Smith, 87, passed away at Forestview Manor in Meredith, NH on Thursday, March 14, 2013. Born in Waltham, MA on December 22, 1925, Shirley was the daughter of Leston and Doris (Mills) Bennett. Shirley was raised in Newtonville, MA and graduated from Newton High School. She also attended the Boston Dispensary. After working as a lab technician in Boston, she married Stanley L. Smith, Jr., also of Newtonville, and raised four children. After moving to Acton, MA, in 1955, Shirley became very active in her community. She was a member of the West Acton Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir and served as Church Clerk and Historian for many years. In addition to her church involvement, other activities included Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign Chairperson, PTA, Girl Scouts, art classes, painting, spinning demonstrations, and support of the Acton Minutemen, of which her husband was a founding member. For a number of years, she was the proprietor of Cracker Barrel Crafts in Moultonborough, NH and the Apprentice Shop in West Acton, MA, arts and crafts supply stores where she also held craft and painting classes. In 1953, Shirley and her husband built a cottage in Moultonborough, NH where she spent many happy summers with her family and friends. She loved music and was often heard singing. Shirley was kind and caring and well-loved by everyone who met her. Shirley was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Stanley, and by her sister, Anita Petrie of Needham, MA. Shirley is survived by her sisters-in-law, Louise Kuzmich and Carol Smith, and brother-in-law Robert Petrie, as well as her daughters, Susan Berry and husband, Lloyd, and Patricia Greenfield and husband, Arthur, and her son Peter, all of Moultonborough, NH and her son Paul and wife, Cindy of West Groton, MA. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Jeremy, Sara, Laura, Kristen, Julia, Michelle, and Tracy, and by two great-grandchildren, Leigh and Caleb. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the West Acton Baptist Church, 592 Massachusetts Ave., Acton, MA 01720, the Activities Department at Forestview Manor, 153 Parade Road, Meredith, NH 03253, or the charity of your choice.

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Shirley B. Smith

December 22, 1925 - March 14, 2013