UPDATE Courtesy of Frederick News Post:

Ai B Smith, III, also known as "Chip" & "Smitty" - passed away on Sunday, August 25, from complications of the Leukemia he battled since 2004.

As an update: There will be a gathering of family, friends and co-workers of Ai on Sunday, September 22, at 4 p.m. Ai was a hard-working man, all of his life. He wanted his family and close friends to come together in a laid back setting to share happy memories, enjoy some of his favorite music, and share an abundance of smiles - and have a round of Coors on him and me.

The event will be at the DogPatch Tavern & Pub in Boonsboro, MD. The 2nd floor is reserved for our gathering. Food and beverages will be served. I look forward to seeing old friends, new friends, and (as my guy's music login says it all) lots of "Smitty Fans". Please join us there to share memories of good times about an incredibly strong and remarkable man - Thanks, Karen (Ai's fiancé) and Liz (Ai's sister).

Ai Benjamin Smith III, or "Smitty" to his friends and "Chip" to his family, passed away on Sunday, August 25, from complications of the Leukemia he battled since 2004.

Ai resided on Beaver Creek Road in Hagerstown, and had lived in the Hagerstown/Smithsburg area since 1992, when he moved here from his hometown of Ijamsville, MD.

Born December 28, 1962, he was the son of Ai B. Smith II and Ann E. Smith of Ijamsville, MD.

He is survived by three wonderful daughters, Kellie Lynn Mason and her husband Chance of Clarksville, TN, Sarah Ann Smith and Samantha Tailor Smith, both of Hagerstown. Also his devoted fiancé, Karen L. Shumaker and his loving sisters, Elizabeth A.Smith and Susan L. Smith and her husband Darby. He has several nieces and nephews that he cared about very much. He is also survived by his closest lifelong friends William "Bill" Shaff of Smithsburg and Donnie Wachter of Frederick, and was pre-deceased by his great friend Jeff Harshman of Smithsburg. Ai is also survived by two former wives, Cynthia Smith of Smithsburg and Michelle Prather of Mt. Airy, MD. He will also be survived by one granddaughter, Briley Mason (soon to arrive).

Ai had retired as Assistant Superintendent of Maintenance with the Federick County Water and Sewer Department, and for many years prior to that was C.O.O. for Goodwill Industries in Frederick. Ai was an electrician by trade and was Service Manager for Ridge Electrical Systems and also worked for R. Lee Fraley Electric. As a young man, he worked for Wachter Brothers in Frederick. He was also a member of the United States Air Force, which he joined out of high school.

Ai was a member of American Legion Post #168 and Amvets Post #7, Thurmont, the South Mountain Rod and Gun Club, the Blue Ridge Sportsman's Association and the Intl' Order of Redmen in Frederick.

Ai enjoyed the camaraderie of life very much and always was looking for the laughter and the levity in any situation. He always felt one should never miss the chance to find all the humor they could in all life's situations, because, after all, the bad times and ill feelings would come on their own anyway. Ai was a staunch social and political conservative and his most prominent cause was protecting our Second Amendment rights. Most anyone who spent any time with him was keenly aware of where he stood in life, yet he did not feel a need to press his beliefs on others as long as their views didn't infringe upon him. Ai felt a great bond with all those he chose to call friends and felt a loyalty and deep caring for them all.

The family will be holding a small private memorial service, but all of Ai's friends are invited to attend a gathering to meet and share his memories to be planned by his fiancé, Karen, at a date to be announced.

No flowers or donations by Ai's request. If you feel the need to make a donation, his family would suggest The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Maryland.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home 1331 Eastern Blvd. North, Hagerstown, MD.

Online condolences may be expressed at douglasfiery.com.

Published in The Frederick News-Post on August 30, 2013