Donald Charles ‘Don’ Smith Passes

Horseman Donald Charles ‘Don’ Smith, 79, of Brookside, NS, passed away peacefully at his residence with his loving family at his side on Thursday morning (November 12).

Don was born on May 1, 1936, in Truro and was a son of the late Cyrus and Dorothy (Cox) Smith.

Don is the father-in-law of Stephen Macleod, who is Standardbred Canada’s identification technician in the Maritimes. Stephen has told Trot Insider that his father used the ‘Brookside’ name for his horses – when he had a horse with a partner they named them differently – and that his last good horse was Rancousy p,3,Q1:55.1h ($90,922).

Other notable horses that Don was associated with were Mach Wheel p,3,1:50.3f ($257,887), Drop Of Nutmeg p,4,1:54s ($111,249) and Pinch Of Nutmeg p,3,1:58.2h ($86,779), to name just a few.

Don owned and operated Don Smith Furnishings Ltd. right up until the time of his death and was a longtime member of First United Church. He was an avid horse enthusiast and had a passion for breeding, raising and racing horses. He was a member of Standardbred Canada and was a very familiar face at Truro Raceway. He was also an avid curler and a former member of Truro Curling Club. Once a year, Don ventured to the cottage in Cape John, but took great pleasure in seeing his family enjoy it as much as they could. He had a soft spot in his heart for his beloved cat, Muffin.

Don is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Helen ‘Beth’ (DeForest); children, Valerie (Stephen) MacLeod, Onslow Mountain; Charles, Brookside; Patti (Brian) Kennedy, Salmon River; grandchildren, Jason, Jamie, Scott, Patrick, Regan; great granddaughter, Chloe; sister, Crystal Best, Lower Sackville; brother, Cy Smith, Debert; sister-in-law, Ann Smith, Lower Onslow; many nieces and nephews. Along with his parents, he was predeceased by his daughter, Jeanne Elizabeth Smith; brother, Glendon Smith; brother-in-law, Laurence Best.

Special thanks are extended to family doctor, Dr. Neil Bower, Dr. Ricardo Rendon (Halifax), Dr. Duane Sheppard (Halifax) and the staff at Colchester East Hants Health Centre for their care and expertise.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mattatall – Varner Funeral Home, 55 Young Street, Truro, where Don’s family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Friday, November 13, funeral service 2 p.m., Saturday, November 14, 2015, Reverend Valerie Kingsbury officiating. Reception will follow. Interment in Crossroads Cemetery, 110 Salmon River Road, Valley. Family flowers only.

If so desired, donations in Don’s memory to Palliative Care Unit of Colchester East Hants Health Centre are welcomed. Private messages of condolence may be sent to the family by viewing Don’s obituary by clicking here.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Don Smith.

(With files from the Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home)