James Curtis Smith, 75, of 165 Wrenwood Way, Greenback, TN and a former Little Genesee, NY resident passed away on Sunday, March 26, 2023 at the Hospice of Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio, following a lengthy illness.

Born on March 23, 1948 in Olean, he was the son of Paul B. and Geraldine Stone Smith. Jim married Henrietta J. Speta in 1966 in Scio; she preceded him in death on September 11, 1977. On June 10, 1978, he married Kathleen Krusey in Monroeville, PA. Mrs. Smith survives.

Jim was a graduate of Bolivar Central School class of 1966. Jim was employed as a machinist by Dresser Rand Co. of Wellsville from 1967-2013. An avid NASCAR/Rusty Wallace fan, Jim was a car buff since before he was old enough to drive. He was an accomplished auto body repairman and took great pride in his cars and trucks.

His fondest memories of his teenage years were his antics with great friends and brothers in Kossuth, plus time he spent in the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corp. He loved working outside to keep his home looking the best it could be, as long as it involved equipment in John Deere green. He loved his family unconditionally, including fur kids past and present.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are his mother, Geraldine Wood Bolivar; three children, Michelle L. Reynolds, Richburg, Patricia A. Allen, Leesburg, FL and Duane C. Smith, Clifton Springs, NY; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three sisters, Linda (Skip) Benjamin, Bolivar, Carol Perrin, Palm Harbor, FL and Nancy Borrino, Webster, NY; one brother David (Kathi Winecker) Smith, Flemington, NJ; step-sister Brenda (Roger) Olmstead, Cuba NY; step-brothers, Dale Wood, Saginaw, TX, Merle Wood, Greeley, CO, Bruce (Amy Nielsen) Wood, Davenport, IA and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas H. Smith, step-brother Phillip Wood, and step-father Carlton Wood.

At Jim’s request services will be private at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Maple Lawn Cemetery, Bolivar.

Memorials may be made to the Bolivar Community Improvement Club, 154 Wellsville Street, Bolivar, NY 14715 or SPCA serving Allegany County, 5440 Rt. 19, Belmont, NY 14813.

A life celebration will be held on Saturday, April 8,2023 at 2P.M. at the home of Skip and Linda Benjamin, 6717 South Bolivar Rd., Bolivar, NY.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schaffner Funeral Home Inc., Bolivar.