NEWPORT-Helen C. Smith age 89 of North Street formerly of Herkimer passed away peacefully on Saturday evening December 29, 2012 in Valley Health Services Inc., Herkimer. She was born on September 25, 1923 in Herkimer, daughter of the late Frank M. and Edith J. Johnson Casler. A lifelong area resident she was raised in Herkimer and was a graduate of Herkimer High School class of 1941. On July 26, 1947 she was united in marriage with John M. Smith in the Herkimer Reformed Church. They shared a loving and devoted union of twenty-one years until his passing in 1968. For thirty years Mrs. Smith worked as a secretary at Herkimer High School in both the Guidance and Principals office. She retired in 1985. Helen moved to Newport in 1997 to be nearer to her family. To all who knew her they will always remember a kind, caring and graceful lady with a wonderful sense of humor and an unforgettable smile. She will be greatly missed. She leaves her daughter and favorite son-in-law Debra and John Tracy of Newport with whom she resided for thirteen years, her very special granddaughters, Katie and her husband Dustin Sellers of Liverpool, Emily Tracy of Clinton, her sister Mary Woodrick of Herkimer, one nephew and seven nieces along with many grandnieces and grandnephews. Besides her parents and husband Jack she was preceded in death by a sister Lillian Cristman in November of 2006. Calling hours for Mrs. Smith will be on Wednesday from 3:00 until 6:00 pm in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street; Herkimer. Funeral service will be on Thursday in the funeral home at 1:00 pm. The Reverend Janet Gleason, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church Herkimer/Little Falls will officiate. Interment will take place later this spring in Oak Hill Cemetery. As an alternative to flowers, please consider memorial donations to the Jack M. and Helen C. Smith Scholarship, c/o The Business Office, Herkimer High School, 801 West German Street; Herkimer, NY 13350. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. The family wishes to thank the staff at Mohawk Homestead and Valley Health Services Inc. for their loving care of Helen.