Mike Smith

Michael "Mike" Arnold Smith passed away on April 21, 2025, holding hands with his beloved wife of 61 years, Debbie, and daughter, Whitney, after an accident. He was 86 years old. Mike was born in Valdosta, Georgia on September 8, 1938. Arguably, that was 100 years too late as he was born to be a cowboy. He spent his childhood summers, along with the other 'river rats,' at the Old Camp House at Arnold Springs on the Withlacoochee River. School never really agreed with him and he famously (in family lore, anyway) attended three colleges in as many years. However, his true education began following the irresistible offering of a free physical that prompted a 21-year-old Mike, who had never been in a plane, to enlist in the United States Air Force and become a pilot. Long before the fictional characters of Top Gun, he trained on a T-37 TweetyBird and F-80 Shooting Star and later flew the B-47 Stratojet. He served the USAF as part of Strategic Air Command during the tense days of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
It was during his time stationed at the Little Rock Air Force Base that he met a local girl named Debbie who would become his lifelong partner. Their honeymoon to Atlanta included an interview with Delta Airlines, where he worked for 34 years. He became a Captain and commanded the DC-9, B-727, B-757, B-767 aircraft; but his favorite was always the L-1011. Rank allowed him to delegate the duties associated with in-flight announcements to the 2nd officer. Mike, with his thick Southern drawl, was known for his unhurried announcements, often deliberately(?) mispronouncing words, much to the amusement of his passengers. He also served in the Alabama Air National Guard in Montgomery.
His Delta career allowed him time to pursue his real passions - farming and ranching. He loved his farm, The Lazy S, dearly. He spoke proudly - but never boastfully - about his cattle as any parent would about their children. Orbit, Star, Vindicator, Osceola, Dudley, Herman, and Beauregarde were a few of his favorite bulls. Today, Louie can be found standing watch at his place by the gate. Despite several grandchildren he adored, his phone's screen saver was always a picture of his cherished cows.
Mike also LOVED dogs. A farm provides an opportunity for a man to have as many dogs as he can feed. It also creates a natural adoption agency for people. Mike adopted more dogs and took in more strays than an animal shelter. He had some good English Pointers when quail were around, but most were of dubious and mixed lineage. A few of the better ones were Henry, Simon, Mack, Jake, Buck, Ritz, Moreover, Dog, New Dog, Meg, Torp, Delta, Ace, Curley, Duke, Cajun, Sundance, Jambo, Rosie, Mimi, Mally, Sol-leks, Rex, Lady, Rat and Hank. He is survived by two faithful hounds, Max and Sadie.
He loved simple things like a quiet sunrise sitting on the porch, the reflection of the pond on a calm day, a nice breeze, or watching the martins fly home every year. He loved growing his mom's Camellias and appreciated beauty in common things the majority of people take for granted. With a sentimental soul, he kept every card a loved one sent him and found meaning in the words of poems and in his favorite country music lyrics. He had a boyish habit of gently teasing people in a good-natured way and found humor in everything. His curiosity was endless as was his generosity and kindness.
Most of all, Mike Smith loved his family and community - his wife (Debbie), sister (Nancy "Honey"), daughter (Whitney), son (Jeff), grandson (Jack), granddaughters (Sam & Maggie, Jane, Audrey), nieces, nephews, and so many friends it is hard to comprehend, much less try and list. You know who you are and you know he loved you.
He was a proud member of the Georgia Cattlemen's and The Southeastern Red Angus Associations and was inducted into the Cattlemen's Hall of Fame in 2016. He was a man of strong faith as a member of the First United Methodist Church and cherished his daily devotional readings. He had even received a Screen Actors Guild card recently for his "acting work" in a commercial filmed on his farm. He is survived by everyone who knew him as we suspect he enriched your life to some degree. Don't be sad about Mike Smith's passing. He "went out with his boots on" as all good cowboys should and will remain eternally undefeated against his grandson in Cornhole, 56-0.
A celebration of life for Mike will be held at McKoon Funeral Home in Newnan, GA, on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 3:00-6:00.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider making a charitable gift to someone in need, as that is what Mike so often did
.
A few of the charities he supported are: St. Jude's Hospital ttps://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8804949&fr_id=154020&pg=personal
First United Methodist Church https://onrealm.org/newnanfumc/-/form/give/now
Child Fund International 1-800-776-6767 St. Joseph's Indian School www.stjo.org/rec
Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.mckoon.com.
McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory 770-253-4580