Kenneth James “Ken” Smith, 67, of Prattsburgh, New York, passed away peacefully on July 25, 2026, at FF Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua, following a challenging battle with lung cancer.

Ken was born on May 17, 1959, in Bath, New York, to Clarence Smith and Margaret Congdon.

Ken is survived by his former wife, Helen Smith of Prattsburgh, daughter, Erin (Aaron) Bieber of Soldiers Grove, WI; son, Ken (Melanie) Smith Jr of Pittsford; daughter, Katie (Andrew) Sherow of Farmington; and daughter, Caroline (Yousif) Alghazi of Rochester. Siblings Evelyn (Jack) Drumm, Prattsburgh; Linda Kemp, Branchport; Robbin Smith, Prattsburgh; Betty (Bill) Seligman of Jupiter, FL; Calvin (Wendy) Smith, Prattsburgh; and Joe Barkalow, Prattsburgh. Grandchildren: Samuel Bieber, Jacob Bieber, Malachi Bieber, Fiona Smith, Sydney Smith, Maxwell Sherow, and baby to be Elias Alghazi. He was also beloved by many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Clarence and Peggy Smith, and his brother-in-law, Donald Kemp.

Ken spent his entire life on the Smith Family Dairy Farm (est. 1902 in Prattsburgh, NY), a place that will always be home. From a young age, farm life became a part of who he was. He learned to drive a tractor and milk cows as he worked alongside his Dad and Grandpa Smith. He especially loved listening to his grandpa’s stories about their family history and treasured his words of wisdom about nature and farming that had been passed down through the generations.

Ken graduated from Prattsburgh Central School in 1977, and after Grandpa Smith’s passing, he devoted himself to supporting his family and preserving their farming legacy, working side by side with his father, Clarence, on the family dairy farm.

In 1980, Ken married Helen Updike, and together they carried the family business forward while raising their four children: Erin, Ken Jr, Katie, and Caroline.

In 1988, Clarence passed the farm on to Ken who proudly carried on the family tradition. Ken then successfully ventured to grow the family business by expanding the herd as well as the barn’s footprint.

Ken continued dairy farming until his retirement in 2010. Retirement, however, didn’t mean slowing down for Ken. He went to work for Pirrung Auctioneers, Inc., where he not only worked alongside Jim, but over the years became a valued and cherished part of the Pirrung family.

Ken could never quite get enough of being behind the wheel of a tractor though, and so went on to work with his brother-in-law and sister, Jack and Evelyn Drumm, on their family farm.

In 2021, Ken began a new chapter with his son, Ken Jr, when the two went into business together and formed Smith Hay Company LLC. It was the perfect next adventure for Ken. He was back on tractors, working the land he loved, and best of all, getting to do it alongside his son.

Ken was creative at heart and happiest when he was making something, playing music, or enjoying the outdoors. He loved music and playing the banjo, but woodworking held a special place among his many talents. He could use just about any tool, from a simple blade to a chainsaw, to turn an ordinary piece of wood into something beautiful. One Christmas, he even made a little Adirondack chair for each of his nieces and nephews. Over the years, he crafted furniture and countless other pieces, including the arches for both his son’s and daughter’s weddings. His creations were more than projects; they were pieces of Ken that his family and friends still treasure today.

Although Ken spent his life in the small town of Prattsburgh, his appetite for adventure was anything but small. He loved attending festivals, taking trips, seeing new places, and experiencing new things. He enjoyed life and the people he met along the way, and he rarely missed an opportunity to turn an ordinary day into a good story.

Ken was a natural storyteller, had a contagious smile, and a sense of humor that brightened every room. He loved making people laugh and would take just about any opportunity he could find to do so. He was also the kind of man who found it impossible to say no to someone in need. Whether it was a friend, neighbor, family member, or even a complete stranger needing help; Ken always showed up, spread joy, and made friends wherever he went.

Of all the things Ken enjoyed, fishing was one of his greatest passions and if he had one regret, it might have been that there were never quite enough days spent with a fishing pole in his hand. Some of his favorite times were spent salmon fishing with his daughter Caroline or heading out with his good friend Eddie Zimmerman.

Ken’s greatest love was his family, and he treasured the special bond he had with his sisters and brother, who meant so much to him throughout his life. Their closeness was built on love, loyalty, and a lifetime of shared memories. Through both the good times and the difficult ones, they were always there for one another, offering love, support, and plenty of laughter along the way. Ken’s sister Evie said it best: “It’s always been the 6 of us… when something happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.” Ken loved working alongside his brother, Cal, taking a tractor apart, figuring out what needed fixing, and putting it all back together again. Time with his sisters was just as cherished; whether he was making them laugh, catching up on the latest news, or simply sitting down together to share a meal. For Ken, it didn’t have to be a special occasion; being together was what made it special.

Ken often told his children, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” and he was proud to see each of them take that advice to heart and find their own path doing work they truly loved. He loved seeing his daughter Erin carry on the family’s farming tradition, using the wisdom he had passed down to build a thriving family farm of her own. He was proud to see his daughter Katie become a doctor, whose knowledge and devotion became especially meaningful to him as she cared for him in his final days. He watched with pride as his son, Ken Jr, took the family business into his own hands and transformed it with such skill and care that Ken knew he could confidently entrust its future to him. And he was equally proud of his daughter Caroline, who inherited his passion for helping others and found her calling as an emergency room nurse. Seeing each of his children doing something they loved was one of Ken’s greatest sources of pride and he felt fortunate to watch each of them grow up, marry, and build lives and families of their own. He also adored his grandchildren who gave him plenty more reasons to smile.

Ken left us far too soon, leaving a space in our lives that can never quite be filled. We will deeply miss his happy smile, his quick wit, and the laughter he brought wherever he went. Though we wish we had more time with him, the love, laughter, and memories he gave us will remain in our hearts forever.

A Celebration of Life will be held in honor of Ken on Saturday, September 12th, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Prattsburgh Fire Hall, 13 Allis St., Prattsburgh, NY 14873. All family and friends are warmly invited to attend as we gather to share memories, honor Ken’s life, and celebrate the special moments he shared with those who knew and loved him. The family would also like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the many family members and friends who provided comfort, support, and helping hands during Ken’s final days. He was surrounded by so much love, and for that, we will always be grateful.