BELFAST — Faye Edith Smith passed away on Feb. 24, 2017. She was born in Belfast on July 17, 1942, the daughter of Harold and Meda Smith.

Faye attended the Hyde Home in Bath from 1947 to 1949, where she learned to get along with children with many different handicaps. While there she learned to walk with braces and crutches. In 1948, she was chosen poster child for the Maine Easter Seals Campaign. As poster child, she went to the State House in Augusta, where she met Governor Frederick G. Payne.

Faye attended Belfast Schools up until her high school years, when she was tutored at home.

Faye went to Pine Tree Camp for Crippled Children for 10 years, starting in 1950. When she first went to the camp, the director told her parents that she couldn't stay because she wasn't yet able to climb stairs. A camp counselor, Bernice "Penny" Lyman, volunteered to carry her up the stairs so that she could stay. Penny continued to carry her upstairs at the camp for the next three years until she learned to go up on crutches. Faye became lifelong friends with several of her fellow campers, and, in later years, she attended most of the Pine Tree Camp reunions, where she enjoyed visiting with former campers and counselors.

She became a member of the Searsport Full Gospel church in 1974 and was an attendee for 10 years before that. She enjoyed being a part of that church family and was especially close to Mary Clark, whom she thought of as her spiritual mother.

In 1993, Faye moved to a trailer home beside her sister Joan's house, where she lived for nearly 14 years. Then, in 2008, she became a resident of Tall Pines Living and Rehab Center, where she remained until her the end of her life. She felt very much at home there, and really appreciated all the therapy help, and the care she received. In 2012, Faye was honored with a lifetime achievement award, which was presented to her during a special ceremony at the State Capital in Augusta.

Faye was predeceased by her parents; and her siblings, Carlene, Harold and her twin brother, Ray.

She is survived by her sisters; Joan Smith, and Jean Bucklin and her husband, Jerome, all of Belfast; a half-sister, Joyce Bernard; a brother-in-law, Eugene Porter; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and two great-nephews, Brody Mc Gray and Evan Porter.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 1, from 1 to 2 p.m., with a funeral service immediately following at 2 p.m. at Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Ave. in Belfast. A springtime burial is being planned.