Richard Smith Obituary

Richard Harlan Smith

Mason

Richard Harlan Smith of Mason, Michigan was unexpectedly called to heaven by his Lord and Savior on June 1, 2015. Richard was born on April 20, 1951 in Jackson, Michigan, the son of Harlan Evro Smith and Mary Jeanette (Davis) Smith. He spent his very early years in Jackson before moving to Mason with his family in 1964.

Richard, or Rick as he was known, graduated from Mason High School in 1969. He was a member of the MHS Basketball Team as well as a member of the MHS Golf Team that won the State Class B Championship during his senior year, the first team to do so in the history of MHS athletics.

He went to Alma College for one year, but transferred to the University of Michigan in order to study Business Administration. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in 1973.

After college, Rick's work experiences included the family business, Smith Hardware, in Mason; Branson Bay Golf Course; owning his own roofing and siding business; Country Club of Lansing; and Ace Hardware in Eaton Rapids.

Rick participated in many outdoor activities, but he specifically enjoyed wilderness skiing in Colorado and British Columbia and mountain biking in Michigan, Florida, South Carolina and Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his father, Harlan Smith, and is survived by his wife, Jennifer Deibler of Mason, his mother, Mary Jeanette Smith of Mason, his brother, Allan Davis (Jo) Smith of Colorado, two nieces, Brianne (Eric) Scott of Missouri and Stephanie (Zachary) Utley of Colorado, and two grand nephews.

Visitation will be Friday, June 5, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Mason, 131 E. Maple Street, Mason, MI and one hour prior to the service. Memorial Services will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 6, 2015 at the Church with the Rev. Bill Pinches officiating.

The family is being served by the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Ball Dunn Chapel, Mason, Michigan. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.grbdmason.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Lansing State Journal on Jun. 4, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Smith

9 Entries

Martin Phillips

June 9, 2015

What a wonderful man. Always enjoyed running into him. Had some great talks with him. Bless him, his family, friends and those that were close to him. He will be missed by many as he was loved by many.

Sharon Perkins

June 8, 2015

Jennifer, thinking of you and all of those who mourn along with you. Sending condolences and prayers.

Jenna Ware

June 5, 2015

I am so sorry for your loss. I found Rick to be an excellent person as well as a fine, fun fellow.

Cathy Rendon

June 5, 2015

I was very sorry to hear of Rick's passing. I worked with him for a while @ Wickes. Rick had a smile and a good word for everyone. He was a good guy. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.

Alan & Debbie Starr

June 5, 2015

We were so very sorry to hear of Rick's death Jennifer. Keeping you & Rick's family in our prayers. God give you comfort.

J-Bird Cole

June 4, 2015

Rick was one of the nicest guys I knew. He was one of the greatest shot blockers I ever knew. He treated everyone like family. We all miss him.

Connie Soule. Brevard

June 4, 2015

So sorry to hear this. I knew Rick from high school. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

Ernie Phillips

June 4, 2015

I first met Rick 50 years ago when his family had just moved to Mason and we were in Junior High School. He invited me to his home and we have been friends ever since. There was a period when we were both off doing other things and would only see each other infrequency. Sometime in the 80s Rick and Dave Birney's company started roofing some of the houses I was building. I began building more homes and I needed someone to design them and Rick was available. Rick went to LCC and learned to operate a computer program to do just that. We had taken an architecture class that Mr. Engle taught in high school. With that class and the computer training Rick produced quality and worked on hundreds of drawings. If you knew Rick you knew how much he liked computers and can appreciate what that took for him to do that. Many of the best looking homes I built we designed by Rick working with the customer. He had a way with people. Besides the CAD work Rick worked with his hands. He worked on the house I live in today. He built his own home . He was recently working on his barn and doing a lot of the work himself. I could always count on Rick getting his work done correctly and with accuracy. Things always change and for a while Rick worked on scheduling jobs. He didn't care for it and we both decided it best to move on. We never had a cross word, we were just friends that tried something that didn't work out. My wife and I had bought a Hardware/Lumber Yard in Eaton Rapids a few years before that. Rick called one day and asked if we needed help. He said he had some hardware experience. We could always use his help and he started working several years ago. Just part time as he had his other interests he needed to do. He worked with my Wife and Children and they feel his loss as much as I do. That tells me a lot about Rick. Whenever we got together we talked as if we hadn't been apart. Our conversations were about people, events, religion, politics or anything else we thought was relevant. I have known Rick 50 years and he worked off and on with me for over 30 years, he never let me down. Rick lived his life on his terms and was doing what he loved when he left it. I have biked, played golf, fished, swam, framed houses, watched video, worked or just spent time with Rick. I feel like I have lost a part of my family and will miss him.
Rest in peace my friend and I believe we will meet again.
Ernie

rex scheid

June 4, 2015

I worked for rick in the summer of 1986,he was fun to work for,i remember he had a grate luagh.he allways took the time to teach me about roofing as we went a long.the things he taught me help me in my next job in construction. Thanks for every thing rick.the world was a better place with you in it.

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