RIPTON — Carl M. Smith passed away Nov. 29,. 2020, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire following a brief illness.
Carl was born April 5, 1954, in Middlebury, Vt. “The tulips were blooming that day” he always told us. He was born to Nola May (Williams) and Kenneth Orrin Smith. He grew up in Ripton and went to school at Ripton Elementary and later at Middlebury Union High School. He was the second oldest of seven children. Kenneth Eugene Smith (deceased), Bonnie Swan, Gary Smith, Chris Smith, Douglas Smith, all of Ripton, and Cindy Savage of Montana. He spent his youth in the Boy Scouts and running around with his brothers and sisters at their home in Ripton.
Carl and his older brother Kenny entered the “ring” as young kids, learning how to box. Carl took on the name White Tiger and Kenny was Kid Dynamite. These two were tough from the start and to the very end.
Carl married Kathleen Johnson in Brandon on Feb 14, 1984, and became a father to his daughter Samantha Smith that summer. These two women were the true loves of his life. He lived in Brandon for many years and then finally climbed back up the mountain and made his home in Lincoln.
Carl was a very special man. He earned the nickname Quill as he always described himself as “prickly like a porcupine.” Reality couldn’t be farther from the truth. He was extremely hard to describe to someone that didn’t know him, but everyone who did fell in love with him. He would do anything for anyone, including playing (mostly) harmless tricks. We have lots of fun memories of that over the years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman for the better part of his life and went to deer camp in Pennsylvania with his brothers and friends for several years. Anyone that knew him also knew that he was an animal lover, but especially hound dogs — rabbit dogs specifically. He loved to rabbit hunt and has had many trusty partners in that over his lifetime. He has left behind his sweet beagle Maisy. Many people would recognize him out and about because they would see her little face stuck out of the window of his truck.
His daughter Samantha and her husband Bobby Lau of Ripton, his siblings, nine nieces and one nephew, several great nieces and nephews and many, many friends survive him. His parents Kenneth and Nola, his older brother Kenny and his beloved wife Kathleen preceded Carl in death. His leaving has left a very large hole in Addison County and in the hearts of all the people he has encountered over the years. His love of telling a great story will never be forgotten. 
There will be no services at this time and a memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. ◊