SMITH, Aubrey Charles Jr.

It is with much sadness we announce the unexpected passing of Aubrey Charles Smith Jr. of Milford Station (formerly of Eastern Passage) at the age of 62 years on July 28, 2025, surrounded by family and friends at the QEII. He was born at Neil’s Harbour, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, on April 9, 1963, to the proud parents of Faye Catherine (nee MacPherson) and Wallace ‘Aubrey’ Smith. Shortly afterwards, the family settled in Eastern Passage where Aubrey attended school, made life-long friends and learned to fix Ford trucks. After completing high school, he enrolled in the automotive course at Dartmouth Vocational School. This fueled his passion for working on trucks.

In his younger years, he was a volunteer firefighter with the Eastern Passage Fire Department. He participated in local truck shows and won a large trophy in 1986 at the 13th Annual Speed Sport Atlantic Show in Halifax.

He started his working life with the Department of Highways and also drove truck for Hodgson Trucking. However, much of his life was spent working as a vehicle compliance officer for the province of Nova Scotia, first at the Scale House at Kelly Lake, then in the late 1990s as a mobile unit travelling across the province. Along the way, he made many great friends who still speak fondly of him. During this time, he owned and operated A. C. Smith Plowing. After 28 years of service to the province, he retired December 31, 2014. Still feeling the need to work, he drove dump truck for a few years for Elmsdale Landscaping Ltd. until he became their fleet manager, a position he enjoyed up until his death.

As for hobbies, Aubrey had very few. He was a dedicated NASCAR fan and enjoyed working on his own ‘fleet’ of trucks, tinkering with one thing or another and adding chrome where he could. He enjoyed his Tim Horton’s coffee and was often found in the parking lot of the shop, watching the antics of drivers, often with one of his children (when they were young) or a friend sitting in the vehicle next to him. He also enjoyed his Friday breakfast at the Big Stop with members of his family.

Most of the joys in his life came from family, particularly from his three children: Sam, Cordel and Charlie, of which he was very proud of. This pride showed as he spoke to anyone who would listen about Sam and her horse, Ty, and the many riding competitions they’ve entered; Cordel and Charlie and their trucks, their ability to fix these trucks and their skill as heavy equipment operators. Between horses and trucks, there was never a dull moment.

While Aubrey claimed he was a dog person and didn’t like cats, Chewie quickly cured him of that when she arrived as a kitten in 2017. They became the best of friends and spent many hours watching old Western movies together.

Aubrey leaves behind his wife, Diane; children, Sam (Nathan), Cordel (Brooke) and Charlie (Jessica); sisters Leona (Kevin) Burke and Mary MacLeod; nieces, Teresa, Vanessa (Eli) and Kenzie (Kyle); nephew, Kylian; grandnephew, Jake (Victoria); as well as Jake’s son, Charlie. He was predeceased by his parents and brother-in-law, Greg MacLeod.

Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of Ettinger Funeral Homes, Shubenacadie and Elmsdale. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Enfield Legion, 50 Old Enfield Rd, Enfield, on Wednesday August 6th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. All are welcome to stop in to say good-bye, to share a story and to celebrate a life that touched many.

Aubrey will be buried with his parents at St. Andrew’s Cemetery, Caldwell Road, Eastern Passage, in a private family gathering in the near future.

The family would like to thank Aubrey’s co-workers at Elmsdale Landscaping for their quick actions during the emergency and their compassion during his illness. We believe he thought of them more like family.

The family would also like to thank the dedicated staff at the Cobequid Community Health Centre, the Victoria General Hospital and the QEII Health Sciences Centre for the care provided during Aubrey’s final days.

Tributes, words of comfort and memories of Aubrey may be shared with the family at www.ettingerfuneralhome.com 

While on this ride called Life, you have to take the good with the bad, smile when you’re sad, love what you had, always forgive, but never forget, and learn from your mistakes but never regret. People change; things go wrong. Just remember, the ride goes on.