Michael Keith Smith was one of five children born to the late Saint Elmo and Mary Ella (Gaddis) Smith. He was born on February 16th, 1948 in Columbus, Ohio. God called him home on Saturday, May 9, 2020.
Michael who was also called Mike or “Smitty” by family and friends was a proud graduate of South High School’s 1967 graduating class. While in high school Smitty was a part of the track, basketball, football and wrestling teams. He shared his love of sports with his sons and especially his grandsons.
Mike worked for Columbia Gas of Ohio for 30 years as a pipefitter. Throughout his career he received numerous awards and accommodations for his outstanding work ethic. It was at Columbia Gas that he met, fell in LOVE with and married his wife and angel on earth Pamela (Scott) Smith.
Following retirement, Mike owned and operated Smitty’s Lawn Service. While he found it hard to find workers to match his energy and work ethic he enjoyed working with his sons Jeff, Kevin and part-time employee Chip . When he would have light cutting days (10 instead of 30 yards) he would allow his grandson’s to ride along and “learn from grandad”. His business was later turned over to his partner and friend Carlos Patterson.
Mike loved music but the drums were his passion. He was a self-taught drummer who later taught his grandson Trey to play before he was two years of age. Mike brought his love of music to Wesley United Methodist Church. There he served as Children’s Choir Director, band member, Senior Choir member, Sunday School Superintendent, Worship Committee member and Head of Trustees. During Mike’s illness drumming responsibilities were handed off to Trey.
Mike leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife Pamela of 35 years. Also left to mourn his lost are his siblings Elmer, Kenneth (Jennifer), Shirley (Barry) Mixon and Gloria; his children Michael II (Jill), Kelli (Kenneth) Keeley, Jeffrey (Marsha), Kevin, Lauren and Micah.
Mike also leaves seventeen grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends that mourn his passing.
Sorrowfully Submitted the Smith Family
Private services Visitation 10:00 AM and Funeral Service 11:00 AM Friday, May 15, 2020 at MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE EAST, 5456 E. Livingston Ave.
Interment at Glen Rest.
Mike has gone on to help prepare the way for us who will follow in God’s time. I will never forget his gentle and kind spirit … or his faked grumpiness that really signaled he was in your corner. Love and prayers to his immediate and church families.
To Kelli Smith Keeley and family my prayers and condolences to you.
Kuwananh(kk)
Thank you Kuwananh,
Hugs,
Kelli
My prayers are with you family, know that God is able to keep you. I wish I could be there in person with you however know that I am with you in spirit praying for your cousins love all of you may God bless, Wayne
Words can’t express the strong bond that I had with Mike. We meet years ago through the sport of bowling. I couldn’t wait for Saturday to come to meet up with my team (Pam and Jeff). The Smiths became my adopted family. He will always be “Big Money” to me (my nickname for him). Heaven has truly gained a magnificent man of God. Rest on my friend until we meet again. Gone but will never be forgotten. Heartfelt prayers to the family .
Our Prayers go up and out to Mike and the Family. May he rest in Peace and the family be comforted by God’s Grace and Mercy during this difficult time. Marcus Thomas & Family
Daddy my world will never be the same. You will forever and ever be my first true love. I pray for the day when we are together again. I love you Daddy!
Stephanie and I will like to send our condolences to the Smiths family during your time of grieving.
I knew Mr. Smith through Saturday bowling at Easton Bowling Lanes. He was a wonderful man. Always talked to me and my two grandchildren, Kaleb and Maijon. Mr. Smith always had a smile on his face. I would see him in passing in his truck with his lawn equipment, he would always wave or stop and talk to me. A beautiful soul and a wonderful man. GODS Angel . My condolences to Mrs. Pam Smith and her family.
Through these hard and trying times, the Gaines family sends r heart felt condolences, may God continue u showing u that he is a merciful God. For with him all things r possible
My sincere heart felt sympathy and condolences to the Smith family in the passing of your loved one I know Mike faught a long hard fight with his family right beside him each of you are in my prayers
On behalf of the Thomas Family, all we can say is, “What A Man.” We are blessed because God let us share time with him on this side. There are so many funny and loving memories. We have so much to be grateful for because Mike was a part of our life. Mike will be missed but because he is a child of God, we will rejoice his return to Our Father and his return with his family members. Mike, keep those heavenly bowling lanes warmed up and don’t throw too many 300s. To Pam, kids, grandkids and siblings, we are praying for strength and comfort. Thanks for sharing him with us. We love you.
Although it has been years since we last saw Mike, we remember fondly, him and the entire Smith family. During our time at Wesley Chapel your kindness and service to the Lord was a model for others to follow. You were and continue to be people of great faith.
Your legacy will live on because of your faithfulness. We will be in prayer for Pam and the extended family as you go through this time of sorrow and celebration. Love you all.
Michael, I’m sure going to miss you buddy! As soon as I found out about your illness, I started praying to our LORD to comfort you and your family. The LORD did answer my prayers, he took you home with him to forever comfort you. You are now in a heavenly place with no more pain and suffering. I will continue to pray for your family until that day you are reunited with your loved ones for a reunion with the LORD!
Sending you all prayers , Mr Smith is now rest and watching over you all. His love runs through your hearts and his spirit lives in your souls. Rejoice that he is now with our Heavenly Father above. Little by little each day will get better, continue to share all your memories with each other , cry some , laugh a lot!! Rest easy Mr Smith.
Daddy you are my twin ,my heart, my big baby because you were so spoiled! Oh my goodness words can’t even express how I feel for you and how shocked I am to be saying Rest In Peace to the man who birthed me! I love you sooooo much l…… I can’t even continue to write !!!!! Love you
Praise God, for my sincere heart felt sympathy and condolences to the entire Smith family. I always enjoyed my talks with Mike because of his love for God. I could always count on him to take care of my lawn when my wife and I would be in the mission field in Haiti. Mike was high energy and took pride in his work. I will miss our talks about the goodness of God. I am Praying for Peace and Comfort for the Smith family during this difficult time. Our loss is God’s gain. As always, “God’s answers are wiser than our Prayers.” May the Peace and Love of God Be With You Always.
Mike was a good friend from work, rest in peace buddy. John Wilson
To Pam and family,
Mike was always a role model to many in his commitment to God and his family. I’ve known him for 45 years and his work ethic was amazing. I will forever call him my friend
To the entire Smith Family and my schoolmate (1967) Shirley. Please know that my prayers are with your entire family. Smitty was always a breath of fresh air in school and always treated everyone as equals. He was always glad to see everyone. And his energy was most sincere. He will be deeply missed. My sincere sympathy to all.
Mr. Smith (Pops) will always be remembered and never forgotten by “Old Buddy” as he use to say or his grandchildren. My condolences to Mama Pam and family.
I am truly honored to have known Mike Smith and through my sister Marsha, he became a valued member of our family. I never saw Mike do any but smile, laugh and truly appreciate the blessings of his family and friends.
My deepest condolences to all the Smith family members. I was blessed to know Mike Pam and Mike’s siblings. I consider them part of my family too. God has called one of His Angel’s back home. I offer my prayers of strength and peace to the Smith family with love. May the Lord bless and keep you all.
Jodelle Mixon / Mixon Family
My condolences to family. May God bless you all and give you peace.
My sincere condolences to the Smith Family at this most difficult time. As a classmate and friend since Roosevelt Jr and South High Class of 1967, Smitty has been a true friend. He became my lawn care provider and he always said that he cut as if every lawn was his yard. We would have lots of laughs and catch up on our 67 class at each cut. I will miss his wonderful smile and whit with dealing with life knowing that God was always in control. Rest on my friend and God give you all the strength to endure until you meet him again.
Pam I give you my deepest sympathies and condolences Smitty was always very kind to me as a young employee in the plant dept I always looked up to and respected Michael you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
The Smoot family like to send their heart felt sympathy and condolences….Pam if there is anything I can do, please reach out to us..God bless your family
Dear Smith Family:
Mike was a very special person . No question that he is serving as a wingman for Jesus, our Savior. I regret that we did not retain better contact in our adult years but I cherish our high school memories. We were teammates in both football and basketball. We became friends as we depended on one another on the field and on our the court. As he did in his adult life, Michael always showed up.
In my opinion, Mike was not only the best all around athlete at South High School as he also wasn’t hebbest all around person.
Sorry for the conditions that will keep me away from the proper salute but please know that I share your love for Mike, one of the best Bulldogs of all time.
Love, Dan Hoffman
Mr. Hoffman,
Your comments brought a smile to my face and a little laugh to my belly. Dad always told us stories about his high school athletic days. You just co-signed so much of what my siblings and I have heard over the years. Thank you for sharing your memories of our father.
Kelli
CONDOLENCES TO PAM AND FAMILY,MAY MIKE REST IN GOD’S ARMS AND ALSO GIVE YOU STRENGTH AND PEACE..WITH LOVE,RENEE’ HENRY
MY CONDOLENCES TO PAM AND FAMILY,MAY MIKE REST IN GOD’S ARMS AND ALSO GIVE YOU STRENGTH AND PEACE AT THIS TIME AND ON FORWARD….WITH LOVE, RENEE’ HENRY
Mike you were such a wonderful person and funny too. John loved working with you. RIP friend. You will truly be missed. Sending prayers to Pam and the family.
May he rest in the lords warm embrace and may all of you find comfort in knowing he is at peace and watching over all of you with love.
Our deepest condolences to the Smith family. May God comfort the family during this time of sorrow. Prayers and Love
Uncle mike i love and will miss you dearly. All good memories when i think back. I hope you rest in peace oh and tell the family we said heyyyyyy we miss and love u all . You will never be forgotten
To the Smith Family: Know that Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal. Lean on God for strength and understanding. Having grown up around Mike and the family in Hanford Village, Mike always kept everybody laughing. He had that laugh and smile that made everybody immediately like him. Mike is safe in the Arms of Jesus and free from all pain. I will be praying mightily for your strength in The Lord as Mike transitions on to Heaven.
Sending our Condolences to the entire Smith family in hopes God comforts and give you all peace during these sad times.
Family the scripture tells us that God will be there to spread out his wings when we are weak. He knew there was going to come a time when we become weak. This is one of those times. Life in the physical has ceased for Mike but life in the spirit continues. If you look into the spirit you will always see him. Because he is there. We love you all and praying for each of you to continue the legacy of your father, grandfather, uncle, brother in law, brother and husband. God be your strength.
Mike was a good man, l remember that smile of his when he just beat you in a game of ping pong.
My condolences to Pam and the family
Our deepest condolences to Aunt Pam and Family! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Our deepest sympathy to the Smith Family. May God cover you during this difficult time.
Prayers and Love go out to Friends and Family.
Go Bulldogs!!
We send each of you our condolences may God’s peace be with you in this time of sorrow.
Our deepest sympathy to the Smith family. May God strengthen and comfort you. Praying for you.
Our loss, heaven’s gain. Thanks for all the care you showed to my parents each time you cut their grass. And thanks for inviting me and my father into your home when we came over to visit you after the ALS began to take its toll. Until we are all together again with our savior, peace to your family and my sorrow for their loss. God bless you my friends.
Our deepest condolences to Pam and the family. Always enjoyed services at Wesley United Methodist Church. Mike and Mr. Walt had the best children’s choir in the city. My children enjoyed singing about Jesus and they will be forever blessed to have had such a wonderful person in their life.
There was no one like Mike – his smile, his gentle nature and his goodness. We were classmates at Roosevelt and South. He was a wonderful dancer and I was fortunate to follow him dancing to the Electric Slide at our SHS reunions. Comfort and peace to you, Shirley, and to all of your family. I was proud to call him my friend.
Smith family,
I am sorry to hear of Mr. Mike’s passing and send my condolences. He meant so much to us all. I am comforted in knowing that he no longer is suffering and that he is with our lord and savior. I just want to tell Mr. Mike that I appreciate all of the love and support throughout the years. He was a mentor to me, helping me to embrace my gift of song. I am so appreciative to have had him in my life. His words of encouragement still stick with me to this day. May the lord bless and keep you all.
Love Lara & Erin Steele, & Roman Steele-Combs
Thanks Smith family for sharing your Brother your Father and your Grandfather with the rest of them world. He will sorely be missed and always remembered. The Moss family would like to express their condolences and wishes of peace and strength
through this trying time.
My heartfelt condolences to The Smith family. Michael and his sons took good care of my lawn in Columbus, while I was living in Nashville. I have been friends with the family for many years. Stay faithful and hold on to all the beautiful memories.
My sympathy and sincere condolences to the entire Michael K. Smith family. I was so very sorry when Smitty told me of his illness and pending turn -over of his lawn service, but very glad that he would be attending a respected Ohio Clinic and in his wife Pam’s capable care, with the support of his children, grandchildren and extended family. I became one of Smitty’s customers in the late 80’s/early 90’s till he turned over his lawn service. I knew Smitty to be a good and righteous man with a large close-knit family. Smitty’s lawn service grew over the years and he, his son’s Jeff and Kevin, provided the very efficient lawn service I needed with reliability, care and professionalism. Smitty was devoted to his family, his church and customers. May he Rest in Eternal Peace with God.
My prayers goes out to you family in this time of loss. As we are a strong family and know everyone loves you and are praying for you also. He’s gone from the body, but he lives in each and everyone of you daily. Praying for you and live you.
Our deepest condolences to Pam and Family!
I’m/we are grateful to God for Mike being a part of our life. Thank You Jesus Christ for the Love ❤️, peace and joy in knowing Mike Smith. He will truly be missed.