Dean R Smith

Newport, NH - Dean R. Smith, 60, of Newport passed away on May 15, 2017 at his home.

Born on June 11, 1956 at Newport Hospital to Roger and Jane (Conroy) Smith, Dean graduated from Newport High School in 1974. Dean had a deep love for sports setting the high school Track & Field records during his high school career in high hurdles, low hurdles, and the  triple jump. He won a best participant award for Track during his junior year. In his senior year, he placed 4th in a state decathlon. Dean was the first person in New Hampshire to be an all-state football player that played both offense and defense during his senior year.

After high school, he attended Plymouth State College for two years. From there, he went on to work twenty-eight years at Dorr Woolen Mill as a production manager. He also worked at Longhill Partners as a Warehouse Manager for thirteen years. But most importantly, Dean was known and loved for his work as a coach. He coached recreational basketball for grades 5-6 for twenty years, recreational football for seventeen years, freshmen football for six years, varsity football for three years, and little league for two years. He played men's softball for twenty-one years and coached the Dorr Softball team to five city championships. Dean played flag football for ten years and in 1993, the Dean Smith Award was created for kids flag football that he awarded every year to the participant who gave it their all. He also served on the Parks and Recreation Commission for twelve years. Dean loved racing and working on stock cars, which he did for over eleven years. He helped his son Craig win two championships in stock car racing.

Dean loved hunting and fishing with his father, he talked to his mother every single morning, he enjoyed car racing and snowmobiling with his son, Craig, and fishing and snowmobiling with his daughter, Amanda. His fondest memories were taking his beloved kids to the ocean and camping in the White Mountains.

Dean is predeceased by his father and his brother, Scott Smith.

Surviving family members include his mother; his son, Craig Smith (23) of Newport and step son Henry Chrislip of Unity; his daughter Amanda Smith (21) of Newport and step daughter Lisa Harris of Newport; his sisters, Marleen Tellor and her husband, Herb, Lisa Fellows and her husband, Allen; his good friend and mother of his children, Shirley Day; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Services will be held at South Congregational Church, 20 Church St.,  in Newport, NH at 1 PM on Saturday, May 20, 2017. A graveside service will follow at North Newport Cemetery with a reception to follow back at the church.  The family requests that you wear your sports jerseys or racing apparel to the service.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Newport Recreation Department, 65 Belknap Ave., Newport, NH  03773.

Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

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