Chester L. Smith Hecla Chester L. Smith, age 89, formerly of Deans Highway, passed away peacefully Thursday morning, December 16, 2010, in St. Elizabeth's Medical Center. Chet was born on October 28, 1921, in Kirkland, New York, a son of the late Erwin E. and Pearl (Slocum) Smith, and attended Westmoreland Central School. At the age of three, Chet and his family moved to Deans Highway, where Chet spent the next eighty-two years on the family farm, until four years ago when he moved to the Lutheran Care Assisted Living. On October 28, 1943, Chet and Elizabeth "Betty" Brower were united in marriage in the Westmoreland United Methodist Church and shared that loving union until Mrs. Smith's death on July 15, 1991. Chet enjoyed his many years on the farm, working the land and caring for the animals, and was a self-employed carpenter by trade. He took great pride in raising Belgian Draft horses, which he sometimes sold and sometimes competed in different competitions, and in 1973, Chet, driving his brother Royal's team, won the New York State horse plowing competition. He was a member and trustee of the Hecla Union Church. Surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, David and Shirley Smith, of Liverpool; one daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Rick Winfrey, of Dumont, CO; grandsons, David R. Smith and his wife, Kelley, of Roswell, GA, Dean Smith and wife, Karen, of Denver, CO, Todd Smith and partner, Hector, of Brooklyn, NY, Shane Speciale, of Denver, CO, and Ryan Winfrey, also of Dumont, CO; five great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Maxine, Casey Ann, Riley and Cole; one brother, Royal Smith and sister-in-law, Freida, of Rome; two brothers-in-law, Bob Lawrence, of Sherrill, and Ken Brower, of Magalia, CA; sister-in-law, Carolyn Smith, of Hecla; and many nieces, nephews and special friends. Chet was predeceased by two sisters, Marion Brown and Erma Lawrence; also five brothers, Frank, Dick, Garner, Kenneth and Carl Smith. Family and friends are invited to call on Sunday, January 16, 2011, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Malecki Funeral Home, Inc., 23 Front Street, Vernon. Close friend Chuck Roberts will conduct Mr. Smith's memorial service to be held at 3:00 p.m., immediately following calling hours, at the funeral home. Spring burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Vernon. In memory of Mr. Smith, donations may be sent to the Hecla Union Church, Cooper Street, Westmoreland, NY 13490.