Merle R. Smith

We are deeply saddened to share that Merle R. Smith died peacefully on September 26, 2026.

She was born on February 23, 1932 to Gladys and Richard Ross in Woodville, NY. She married Sydney Smith in 1953 and together they built their life in Saranac Lake. After Sydney’s death in 2017, Merle continued to live in the house they had built together.

After receiving her Bachelors Degree in Education from Oswego, Merle began her career as a teacher in 1952 in Syracuse NY. Merle moved to Saranac Lake the following year where she taught until her retirement in 1990. She received several Master Degrees during her 38 years of teaching. She was everyone’s favorite kindergarten teacher. Merle was the true definition of a teacher, instructing, helping and guiding, something she did daily even after her retirement. She was a tireless volunteer, tutoring, teaching the English Language and providing years of story telling at the Saranac Lake Free Library.

Merle was a member of The First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, often helping with both the community dinners and rummage sales.

She and Sydney biked throughout town, more than 1000 miles each summer. They could also often be seen on long daily walks. She touched the hearts of hundreds of children throughout her life, with many keeping in touch with her as they grew into adults. It was not uncommon to see her sitting in her driveway around the time school was letting out, waiting to chat with the children walking by.

Merle loved to sew, donating over 250 handmade quilts to the children of St. Jude’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House.

She was an inspiration to all who were lucky enough to know her - and everyone she knew was a friend.

“Though she be but little, she is fierce”. And fierce she was, a passionate strong woman with a huge heart. She was secretly generous to many, but wanted no recognition. If someone was in need, Merle was the first to step up and help. To say she will be missed is quite possibly the biggest understatement we have ever heard.

A special thank you to the staff at Champlain Valley Senior Community in Willsboro for welcoming her as part of their family for the past year, and to her special friends Patti, Mike and Mikayla Ploof, and Kim and Jeff Taylor for their years of friendship and ensuring she had an amazing quality of life.

Merle is survived by her son, Robert, of Shippensburg PA, her granddaughter Laurel Millar (Zach) and great grandson Jasper of Sydney, Australia,her son-in-law, John Grey of Sterling, NY, her sisters Carol Bushnell (Richard) of Adams, NY and Ora Ditch (Ronald) of Henderson, NY, many nieces and nephews and countless friends. She was pre deceased by her husband Sydney, her daughter, Barbara Grey, her parents and her 8 brothers and sisters, John Ross, Anna Stagner, R. Scott Ross, Kent Ross, Frances Lane, June Stockwell, Edna May, and Frank Ross.

At Merle’s request, there will be no calling hours or services. A celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Donations in her memory may be made to the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department or the Saranac Lake Holiday Helper Program, both organizations she has supported for years.