John E. "Gunny" Smith

Ossipee, NH 

John Edward "Gunny" Smith, passed away November 8, 2021.  He was born on June 1, 1936 in Wichita Ks. to Mary Marjory (Thomson) Mitchell; she remarried to Wilfrid Morrow Smith when John was 1yr old. Wilfrid adopted John and raised him as his son.

Nicknamed "Skeet" by his Kansas family, as a teen he raced horses and played bass drum in the Midland Pipe Band.

John joined the US Marine Corps in 1953. He was a Korean era, Viet Nam veteran serving 18 months in Viet Nam in 1966-67, and then was stationed at Parris Island S.C. as a Drill Instructor. Later, he qualified for the Marine Corps shooting team in 1971 where he won a gold medal for pistol and a silver medal for rifle in competition. He retired as a Gunnery Sgt.in 1973.  Known to many as "Gunny", he was reinstated to full active duty when he volunteered again in 1990-91 during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm where he served stateside in a support capacity. Gunny completed his Bachelor of Science degree at New Hampshire College and worked counseling Viet Nam vets while helping them get and keep gainful employment.

As proud as he was to serve his country in the Marine Corps, through the mid 70's until the early 2000's Gunny worked in law enforcement for the NH State Police as an Auxiliary Trooper, with the Hillsborough County Sherriff’s Dept. as a Deputy, at the Hampton P.D. for 18 years as a Summer Special at the beach and finally with the Carroll County Sherriff’s Dept. and Ossipee Police Department until he retired fully.

Gunny was passionate about and very active in the Scottish community for over 30 years cultivating close friendships around the world.

He is predeceased by his son Dan who passed in 1984. He is survived by his sister Sally Burchell and her husband John of Huntsville TX., his sister Meg Hayes and her husband Rick, his sons John of California, Douglas and David both in NH, his granddaughter Ashley McCraner and her husband Jarred soon to be of Minn. grandsons Ryan of Cali. Dan and Greg both in N.H., great grandchildren Collin and Kendall soon to be of Minn., nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews all of whom he loved very much.

Calling hours will be Saturday May14, 2022 from 3:00 to 5:00pm at Lord Funeral Home, 50 Moultonville Road, Center Ossipee, NH.  A Military Graveside service will be held Monday May 16th at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen, NH.

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