Lyle Addison Smith

WEST BOYLSTON - Lyle Addison Smith, 88, passed away at the Oakdale Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, after a long and extended period of declining health. Born in the family home in West Hebron, New York on December 22, 1929, Lyle was the son of Russell C. and Lillian (Mattison) Smith and lived 55 years in West Boylston. One of three children, Lyle was predeceased by his brother, Russell V. Smith and sister, Evelyn (Smith) Phelps. He was raised in a rural farming community where he attending grammar school in a one-room schoolhouse and later graduated from the Washington Academy in Salem, NY, where he met and fell in love with, Shirley Hunter. After a several year courtship, Lyle and Shirley married on October 6, 1951 at the United Methodist Church in Salem, NY. Lyle attended Becker College in Worcester where he studied business administration and bookkeeping. Upon his graduation, he went to work at Merrill and Usher Steel Co. in Worcester where he began to build a promising career in sales. When the Korean Conflict broke out, Lyle joined the United States Army and honorably served his country as a Corporal at Ft. Devens, Ft. Bragg and then Ft. Drum in Watertown, NY. After the conflict ended, Lyle returned to work at Merrill and Usher where he was promoted to Vice-President and General Manager. When the company closed, Lyle moved on to Peterson Steel Co. in Worcester where he became Sales Manager before his retirement. Lyle's life was centered on family and faith. He was an active member of both Chaffin Congregational Church of Holden and the First Congregational Church of West Boylston. He volunteered in many capacities and served as a Deacon, Sunday school teacher, church council board member, youth group advisor and scout leader. His stewardship of the church and its ministries was generous and on-going. Lyle and Shirley enjoyed 27 years at their winter home in Bradenton, FL. In their retirement, they traveled with friends throughout Europe, Bermuda and the United States. In his spare time, Lyle could be found working in his garden and cultivating fruits, vegetables and berries. He was especially proud of jumbo jack-o-lantern pumpkins which he harvested annually for his grandchildren. Reading history, biographies and novels was an everyday activity, as was watching and rooting on the Red Sox, Patriots and other Boston sports teams. Then there was the game of golf. He enjoyed playing golf at Twin Springs Golf Club in Bolton and Wachusett County Club in West Boylston. He looked forward to his golf matches with his friends in Florida. He will be lovingly remembered and missed by his wife of 66 years, Shirley Hunter Smith; his daughter, Heather Krasnov and her husband, Paul of Holden; two sons, Gregory Smith and his wife, Laurie (Doyle) of Holden and Julian "Jay" Smith and his wife, Brenda (DiTerlizzi) of West Boylston; four grandchildren, Janelle (Smith) Woodfall and her husband, Justin of W. Newbury, Caitlin (Smith) Barnard of Holden, and Tyler Smith and Erika Smith both of West Boylston; three great-grandchildren, Reagan Ann Woodfall, Sawyer Smith Woodfall and Emory Grace Barnard; many nieces, nephews and friends. A memorial service honoring Lyle's life will be celebrated at 1 pm on Saturday, June 2, at the First Congregational Church of West Boylston, 26 Central St., West Boylston. Burial will be held at a later date in Evergreen Cemetery in Salem, NY, where Lyle’s father served as the Cemetery Superintendent. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First Congregational Church of West Boylston, 26 Central St., West Boylston, MA 01583. Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden is honored to assist the family with arrangements. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit our "Guest Book" here on this page.