It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Gene Dewar Smallman, 68, of Kensington on March 20, 2024, at Prince County Hospital surrounded by loved ones. Gene was a farmer, and a great one. The product of a generation where hard work was the only way, if you put in the work you could truly be proud of what you had accomplished, and that never left him. Born and raised in O’Leary, Gene’s drive to succeed started young, whether it was making the trip to Charlottetown to claim champion 4-H dairy showman or entering and winning the provincial plowing match as a teenager against the men, he was too young as champion for PEI to even send him to the national competition! As a teenager he was pulled from a potato packing warehouse by Charlie Willis to work with his racehorses, a period of his life that always brought back smiles, laughs and stories. He was always quick to admit that this experience taught him much about caring for livestock, the species didn’t matter, the principles were the same. Gene purchased his family dairy farm at a very young age, already with a young family, this is when the real work began, but he persevered, overcame lots and ultimately succeeded. After re-locating to Freetown in the mid 90s Gene established new goals and a new farm, Lexis Holsteins. His herd and its’ name would come to be recognized widely throughout North America and beyond. Always hands-on, his skill as a Holstein breeder and a herdsman gained him much respect. As a man to do business with he was respected even more. In 2015, Gene would be recognized as a Master Breeder of the Holstein Association of Canada. Ironically, this was one goal that he never set for himself, though he achieved it in his first year of eligibility and after having dispersed his herd throughout North America not once, but twice at auction. Recent years had brought him back into harness racing and rekindled a passion he always had. The horses and the people were really the draw. You couldn’t get him to the races for 40 years and now we know why, he knew he would be hooked! For those who knew him well, it is no secret that his favourite job was Grandfather, whether Pappy for most or Papa for another, he adored his grandchildren and he made sure they knew. The man who always had a smile is survived by his loving wife Cheryl, son Jody (Erin), daughter Jillian (Kyle), and his five grandchildren, Callum, Cruz, and Mischa Pineau and Sutter and Blake Smallman. Arrangements have been entrusted to Davison Funeral Home, Kensington, a private service for the family will take place at a later date. Donations in Gene’s memory to the Prince County Hospital Foundation would be greatly appreciated if so desired. www.davisonfh.com
Gene Dewar SMALLMAN — Kensington
