James Prall Smith Junior was born October 21st, 1942, to Marjorie Ester (Lewis) and James Sr. in Belvedere, NJ. He grew up rooting for the Brooklyn Dodgers during the Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax days. Jim traveled north to VT to attend Norwich University as a cadet, earning a degree in business and a commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the US Army. Assigned to armor in the “Big Red One”, he spent years at Fort Riley, Kansas training troops on the firing range. Jim returned to Vermont after completing his service, and began working at General Electric, earning the nickname “Smitty” where he met and eventually married Diane Lee Chadwick. Together they had Julie Ann Borman & James III. Jim transitioned careers and spent three decades working for the VT Department of Taxes as a Tax Field Examiner. Along the way he met the love of his life, Ellen Alma Stark. Jim and Ellen were inseparable for 32 years, adventuring through the Vermont and Adirondack countryside in search of pristine cross country ski trails, lakeside breakfasts, and the perfect maple creamee. Jim was a true outdoorsman, spending countless hours hunting every type of game with every allowable implement across Vermont with friends and family. He could really get going talking about jump shooting ducks in a canoe along the Lemon Fair with the Lalumiere boys, deer camp antics with dandelion wine, all manner of mischief alongside his brother-in-law Bill Levee, raccoons in the trunk of a VW beetle, or his many moose hunts. He loved living close to the land, tirelessly gardening alongside Ellen, and cutting firewood to heat his home throughout his life. One of his true pleasures was operating the arch at peak efficiency in his neighborhood maple sugaring operation. Jim had an affinity for native artifacts, studying the landscape and spending many years patrolling the fields of Vermont, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania with his brother Lawrence Prall Smith in search of arrowheads, knives, spear points, and other stone tools. Ellen cared for Jim with steadfast tenderness as more recent years slowed him down, taking long Sunday drives in the Vermont countryside. Jim embarked on the next great adventure early in the morning on October 12, 2026. He is survived by his Main Squeeze Ellen, his Daughter Julie, her husband Peter Borman and their children Samantha and Taylor, as well as his son Jamie, his wife Jamie, and their sons Fox and Archer, in addition to his brother Lawrence and sister-in-law Carol Smith, along with countless close family who will forever remember him as “Uncle Jimmy.” Family will hold a private service at Riverside Cemetery in Richmond, followed by a celebration of life at a time to be determined. Family would like to thank the dedicated staff at UVMMC who helped ensure his comfort and dignity through his final days. In lieu of flowers, family request you honor Jim’s spirit with a walk in the woods or a maple creamee with someone you love.