Ken Smith (October 21, 1941 – January 13, 2023)

North Haverhill – Ken Smith, also known as Country Ken, Jethro, and the Singing Gas Man, passed away on Friday, January 13, 2023, at Cottage Hospital surrounded by his loving family.

Kenneth George Smith was born in Piermont, NH on October 21, 1941 to Pearl (Webster) Smith and Floyd Levi Smith. Ken graduated from Bradford Academy high school in Bradford, VT in 1959. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force earning certification as a technician in commercial refrigeration. He was then assigned to the SAC base in Plattsburgh, NY for three years.

In 1961, Ken married Charlotte Chase and in 1963 their first daughter, Sonia
Kim, was welcomed. Ken moved his family to Rhode Island to complete his refrigeration certification, and then they moved to Concord, NH where he worked several years at Humphrey Refrigeration Company. In 1965, his second daughter, Andrea Kay, was welcomed.

One pivotal day in 1968, Ken received a call from his mother sharing news that a small fuel company in Haverhill, NH was looking to sell the LP gas sector of their fuel oil and gas business. The business, Grafton Fuel, was owned and operated by Maurice and Olive Slight. With a leap of faith, Country Gas Service was born. A year later, their son, Arnold Chase was welcomed.

Dedication, perseverance, community involvement and attachment to his customers helped Country Gas grow. In 1977, with the help of Kay and Logan Dickie, Country Gas expanded into a professional office building on Court Street in a prime location across from Alumni Hall and the library. Ken sold his business to George Pratt in 1995.

In 1998 he married Patricia Carle and they moved into their beautiful home on Horse Meadow Road in North Haverhill. Ken was a pillar of strength for Trish and her extended family. The all loved him beyond words.

Ken continued to work for Pratt's Propane until 2005 when Dead River Company acquired Pratt's. Ken worked at Dead River until his retirement in 2013, which was short-lived. Shortly after retirement, he was invited back to work at Dead River. He continued working part-time at Dead River for a few years before joining Thomson Fuels in 2020 where he was treated like gold. Ken worked for Thomson Fuels up until he left due to his health. Ken loved his work and had a wealth of knowledge about the industry. Ken also worked for a time at the Horse Meadow Senior Center providing building maintenance.

Ken's customers were an important priority for him. He always went that extra step to be sure that they were well taken care of. In turn, his customers loved him. Ken was a hardworking and dedicated person who was always willing to put in the extra effort to get the job done. No matter what job Ken was doing, whether it was building his own business or helping to build business for someone else, he took pride in doing it well.

Ken never met a stranger. He loved talking with people from all walks of life. His optimistic attitude about life was uplifting and he spread his optimism where ever he went. Ken felt that everyone had something to offer the world and he enjoyed meeting people and learning each person's story.

Ken was an auto-racing enthusiast. His passion for racing took him to Bear Ridge Speedway on Saturday nights where he would hang out in the pits with drivers, Derek Graham and Mike Dunn, and the other drivers and crews. For many years Ken attended racing events at NHIS. He loved spending the weekend in his RV at his reserved space. On two occasions he attended races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. In addition, he attended races at Talladega Super Speedway and the Daytona 500. For Ken, attending these events was the equivalent to a child in a candy shop.

Ken enjoyed music and was a self-taught musician. He played keyboard and guitar. Additionally, he had a beautiful singing voice, which earned him the nickname, the Singing Gasman. Ken was a country music fan. He especially enjoyed Classic Country music. His favorite artist was Gene Watson. He and Trish enjoyed attending live concerts together at the Flying Monkey, the Lebanon Opera House, and one special trip to the Grand Ole Opry. Ken was always whistling a tune, demonstrating again his enjoyment of music and his overall joyful attitude.

He whole-heartedly believed in the importance of contributing to the community. He served the community in many capacities, including the Town of Haverhill Fire Department, the library, church and water precinct.

Ken loved mornings, coffee frappes, Hatchland chocolate milk, strawberry shortcake, #3 Dale Earnhardt, auto racing, music, whistling while he worked, meteorology, fixing things, his home, Trish, and his kids. He was a kind and compassionate man. Ken was content and happy and loved his life with Trish and his latest boxer, Dillion. Anyone who knew Ken would say that he was an inspiration.

His parents predeceased him. He is survived by his wife, Trish Carle-Smith, a brother Wilfred Smith, and his wife Eleanor (Ellie) of Lebanon, NH, their two sons, Loren and Eric, a sister, Winifred (Winnie) Baker and her husband, Robert Baker, of Concord, NH, their two sons, Kevin Baker and his wife Susan, Kent Baker and his wife Heather, three wonderful children, his daughter Sonia Gauthier and her husband Michael, of Manchester, NH, daughter Andrea Smith and her partner Steve Hildreth, of Chelsea, ME, Andrea's daughters, Cassandra Stiman and her husband Andrew, of Augusta, ME, and Amelia Diplock of Philadelphia, PA, his son, Arnold Smith and his wife, Belinda of Monroe, NH, and their children Delaney and Chase Smith.

A Celebration of Life is planned for June 16, 2023, from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the Horse Meadow Senior Center. For racing enthusiasts, please feel free to dress in your racing attire. In lieu of flowers, Ken wishes for donations be made to Camp Dee O Gee, Horse Meadow Senior Center, Woodsville Emergency Services, the Town of Haverhill Fire Department or a charity of your choice.