Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Mr. Edward Smoke, age 87, of 423 St. Regis Road, Hogansburg, died Sunday afternoon (December 21, 2008) at Massena Memorial Hospital, where he had been admitted earlier in the day.

He was born April 11, 1921 in Hogansburg, the son of Andrew and Agatha Swamp Smoke. He attended on the Reservation, then the Ogdensburg Orphanage School for 6 years and then Massena High School. He served in the US Marines as Gunnery Sergeant from 1941-1943. He married Selena M. Garrow on December 5, 1957 at the Methodist Parsonage with Rev. William Masters, officiating.

He first worked as an ironworker with Local #440, Utica for 25 years. In 1969, he went to work at General Motors where he was a millright, retiring in 1985. He was a member and past commander of the Andrew W. Cook American Legion Post #1479. He was a former member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Earl J. Santimaw VFW Post #1143, Massena. He was member of the Hogansburg Methodist Church. He was a member of the Akwesasne Housing Board. He was an active supporter of the all his children’s sports and enjoyed family gatherings. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed taking of his lawn. Eddie was a supporter of the Akwesasne Freedom School. He also enjoyed cooking at chicken barbeques.

He is survived by his wife, Selena; by 6 children and their spouses, twins, Larry and Sherry Garrow, Cornwall Island; Terry Garrow, Hogansburg; Doug and Diane Smoke, Racquette Point; Carolyn and John Francis, Cornwall Island; Ed and Rena Smoke, Hogansburg; Barbara Thompson, Hogansburg; by 18 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a daughter, Kathleen Diane Smoke on December 3, 1967, by 2 brothers: Leo J. and William P. Smoke and a sister, Veronica Grasskopf.

Friends called at the home of his son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Diane, 25 Laughing Road, Racquette Point, starting Monday, December 22, 2008 until a funeral service held Wednesday, December 24, 2008, at the Hogansburg Methodist Church with Rev. Deborah L. Waldron, officiating. Spring burial will be in Methodist Church, Hogansburg. Arrangements are with the Donaldson Funeral Home, Massena.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Hogansburg Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

Condolences may be made online at http://www.donaldsonfh.com