Thomas Franklin Smith

The world lost a good Christian man on Monday, April 25 2016. Thomas Franklin Smith peacefully passed away from dementia at the age of 63, surrounded by his family in Sunderland, VT.Tom always said, "It's not 'good-bye' it's 'see you later'". This served him well in his life as he was a loving, family man traveling from his home town of Fort Wayne Indiana, to southern NY where he worked for 34 years as a property tax assessor, to his retirement and final home in Vermont. He had many loves including the outdoors, Reiki, watercolor painting, and fly-fishing. He remarked that he loved it even if he didn't catch anything (which usually meant he hooked himself or a tree).A patient, loving, and caring man and teacher, Tom never stopped sharing wisdom with the people around him, especially his children, maybe even more so while battling Frontotemporal Dementia. He found the beauty in every situation and always found a reason to smile. He was full of life and love and will be greatly missed by everyone who was lucky enough to know him. We'll see you later, Tom, Dad, Husband, Uncle, Brother, Friend.Surviving are his wife, Julie Hutchinson-Smith and son Lukas Smith of Sunderland, VT, son Sean Smith and daughter Sophia Smith both of Westchester NY, sisters Beverly (Steve) Doan and Lisa (Bob) Compton, both of Fort Wayne IN, mother-in-law Mary Beth Hutchinson of Rupert, VT, brothers-in-law, Richard Hutchinson of Dover, NH, Chris Hutchinson, of Carbondale CO, 5 nieces, 3 nephews, 6 great nieces, 4 great nephews and one great grand nephew. He was predeceased by his father Owen C Smith Jr., mother Clara Jane Sutton Smith, and nephew Greg Doan.Calling hours will be Friday, May 6th , 6-8pm at Brewster-Shea Funeral Home 34 Park Place Manchester, VT 05255. A memorial service will be held on May 22nd at 2pm at United Church of Dorset, 143 Church St., Dorset, VT 05251. Another service is being planned for the summer in Fort Wayne IN. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made (if so inclined) in Tom's memory, payable to Lukas Smith to be used for his college fund, care of Brewster-Shea Funeral Home PO Box 885 Manchester, VT 05255. Calling hours will be Friday, May 6th , 6-8pm at Brewster-Shea Funeral Home 34 Park Place Manchester, VT 05255. A memorial service will be held on May 22nd at 2pm at United Church of Dorset, 143 Church St., Dorset, VT 05251. Another service is being planned for the summer in Fort Wayne IN.