Obituary of George D. Smith

George David Smith, 39, sadly and tragically left this world on the morning of Saturday, September 21, 2024. George was born on December 2, 1984, to David and Elaine (Jones) Smith at The Hospital in Sidney, NY. George always had an adventurer’s spirit and a smile that could light up a room. When he was little, he would go off with his Grandpa (George) Smith, and they would often find themselves in silly predicaments. Every year, George would help his father and grandfather make maple syrup out of sap. He would race his bike through Oquaga Creek State Park trying to find his dad, who would often be found working in one of the park’s many loops or go on shopping adventures with his mom and sisters. George’s favorite thing to do was hiding in the clothing racks while the girls shopped, and afterwards, he would always choose to go to Ponderosa (he loved buffets). He could also be found making fun videos of ceramic animals with his little sister, Annie, at his grandpa’s house. George graduated from Bainbridge-Guilford High School in 2003. After graduation, he entered the Marines with his best friend Matt Powers, something that they had been planning and talking about doing for a long time. While in the Marines, George was stationed in Quantico, VA. Here, he earned his CDL and was responsible for bringing home fallen marines when they arrived home from war, and driving dump trucks, and his favorite, tow trucks. George always wanted to make sure that he was doing exactly what was needed from him. After leaving the Marines in 2007, and making lasting friendships, George decided to continue driving truck out of the Marines for different agencies, such as Willow Run Foods. His family would love it when they received a phone call from him on the road because he would always “honk honk” his horn when he was on the phone with them. From a young age, George always had quite a strong work ethic. While he may have hated leaving his family for work, he always made sure he gave his job 100 percent. From working in the fast food industry at Wendy’s, helping a neighbor with their grape vines, working at Frog Pond Farms, and driving trucks for different trucking lines (Willow Run Foods, Maines, Lineage Logistics), he did his best to make sure the job was always done right. George met his true love, Rachel Hares, in 2009. She entered George’s life right when he needed her the most and they have been together ever since. They made the perfect match. He was welcomed into the Hares family with open arms (he was the favorite son-in-law). Soon his most prized possession would be born, Madyson Smith, in 2010. Maddy meant the world to George and he was so very proud of all of her accomplishments in sports, music, trap shooting and school. Even though he had to spend a lot of time on the road, he would look forward to getting home to “Rachie”, Maddy “Ooga Booga”, and his dog Gus to go off on adventures together. George encouraged Maddy to try new things in different capacities that she would never have even thought to have done if it wasn’t for him. As a family, they enjoyed doing different things like going to concerts, festivals, camping at Oquaga, playing disc golf (Maddy always got her discs stuck in the trees), going kayaking, fishing, stargazing, making bonfires, creek walking, and swimming. He and Maddy enjoyed going biking, singing, walking, grilling, and making breakfast. George also loved plowing snow, and his plow was drift buster. He was their rock. George’s family meant the world to him, and he meant the world to them as well. He loved going out to his parent’s house and going fishing and creek walking. He was his parents' only son (the rose between the thorns), and he and his father had such a close bond. He had two nieces, Melanie Ward and Penelope Hosmer, and one nephew, Henry Ward. He always loved taking them out to the creek with his daughter, and of the family’s favorite memories being the beaver dam with Melanie, Maddy, Henry, Christine, and Rachel. He would often meet Henry and his father out at Oquaga Creek to fish with them. He was a beloved Father, Son, Uncle, Husband, and Friend, and he will be greatly missed. George is predeceased by his grandparents, George Leland and Gerd Smith, and Theodore Jones. He is also predeceased by his uncle, Charles Smith. He is survived by the love of his life, Rachel Hares; his daughter, Madyson Smith; parents, David and Elaine Smith; sisters, Christine (Gabe) Ward, and Raeann (Daniel) Hosmer; nieces, Melanie Ward and Penelope Hosmer; nephew, Henry Ward; grandmother, Theresa Jones; aunts, uncles, many cousins, The Hares Family, and countless friends. Visitation will be Friday, September 27, 2024, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at CH Landers Funeral Chapel 21 Main St. Sidney, NY