Smith – George Arthur Smith of Brooks passed away on Monday, February 24th, 2014 at the Brooks Health Centre, Sub-Acute Care at the age of 91 years. George was born on July 19th, 1922 in Little Hell, England. He grew up loving horticulture, and area in which to took training in his late teens. He moved to Canada in 1956 or 1957 and worked on a tobacco farm in Ontario and later at a greenhouse near Ottawa, where he furthered his horticultural training. In about 1960, he decided that he wanted to see the Calgary Stampede. He started out west in his truck and late the first evening he stopped at a hotel to sleep for the night. When informed that the cost would be $2.00 for the night he told the owner he didn’t want to buy the hotel, he just wanted to sleep there. After several uncomfortable sleeps in the truck and using hot water from the truck radiator for shaving, he finally got to see the Stampede. George next worked on several farms in the Hanna area. He began working at the Brooks Horticultural Research Center in the early 1960’s. George’s crowning achievement at work was planting and maintaining the rose garden at the Center. The rose garden which is still in existence today contains many roses developed by western Canadian rosarians. George is survived by his brother, Gilbert and wife Audrey; his sister, Nina Coadwell; nieces Gloria, Jennifer, Gillian, Josephine, and nephew Michael and their families all of England. Funeral services were held on Friday, February 28th at 2:00 PM from Smith Memorial Chapel. Rev. Ken Wells officiated. Interment followed at Brooks Cemetery. In memory of George, if friends desire, memorial tributes may be made to Communities in Bloom, Box 252, Brooks, Alberta T1R 1B4. Funeral arrangements in care of SMITH FUNERAL HOME, BROOKS, ALBERTA. Condolences may be forwarded through www.sfh.ca Telephone 403-362-4636 or Toll Free (866) 362-4652.
