Phelan E. Smith, 36, N.J. musician

Phelan E. Smith, 36, of Lumberton, a trainer for the Educational Testing Service and a talented musician and disc jockey who performed as "DJ Phee Funk," died Monday, Dec. 20, of injuries suffered that morning in a highway crash.

A graduate of Pemberton Township High School and Chubb Institute in Cherry Hill, Mr. Smith also attended Burlington County College and Mercer County Community College.

He played trumpet, drums, saxophone, and keyboards. He was a member of several bands and did studio production for various musical groups. As a disc jockey, he performed around the country - he recently returned from an artists showcase in California.

Mr. Smith was working on an album with one of his bands, FTL, when he died, his aunt Denise Clay said.

"Music was a huge part of who Phelan was," she said. "We kind of knew that when he started borrowing albums as a child and they'd stop coming back. Music was his thing."

Mr. Smith was en route to work in Princeton when a tractor-trailer hit his car on I-95, relatives said.

In addition to his aunt, he is survived by his parents, Walter A. and Mary L.; a grandmother, Ollie L. Clay; six uncles; four aunts; and a lifelong friend, Ian Green, "who was like a little brother," Clay said.

A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, at Calvary Baptist Church, 5 Scrapetown Rd., Pemberton Township, where a funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Pemberton Borough.

Memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10004.