Smith, Lex Carington

Alexander Harcourt Carington Smith 1895-1975 &
Mary Isabelle (Atkinson) 1911 - 1984

Lex, as he was known, was born in Quebec City in 1895 and was the eldest son of Robert Harcourt Smith and Mary Valliere (Gunn). He had two younger brothers, Gordon and Guy. He was educated at Bishop’s College School in Lennoxville, Quebec.
In 1931 he married Mary Isabelle Atkinson in Levis, Quebec and they lived for many years on Pine Avenue in Quebec. He and Mary had one daughter, Susan, born in 1942. During World War II, Lex and Mary cared for two refugee children from England, Richard, and Elizabeth. They returned to their family in London after the war but the two families remained in touch for many years.
Mary was a talented knitter and a superb home chef as well as a community volunteer, especially with the Women’s Auxiliary, and during the war, she even learned auto mechanics!
Lex was an importer and manufacturer’s agent of fishing and camping supplies. He was a keen outdoorsman and fisherman who tied his own flies. He was never happier than fishing at the Sainte Marguerite River with Uncle Art and his two brothers.
Lex and Mary purchased Bayview Cottage (now owned by the Stairs family) and it became known to the family as the fun place to be in Tadoussac. Mary was the most gracious hostess. Serving dinner to ten or fifteen family and friends was not unusual. They were great friends with Micheline Caron and George Kenilworth Craig who often stayed with Lex and Mary in the summer. Lex was a long-time member of the Garrison Club in Quebec City and died there in 1975.
The last years of Mary’s life were spent living with her daughter Susan and her husband Keith Robbins in and around Guelph, Ontario. Lex and Mary are buried in Mount Hermon Cemetery in Quebec City.

Eve Wickwire