He was a very good man and was loved by many.  RIP Terry.

Terry was my assistant Buyer and the best one I ever had when we worked at Buick.  He was with me during the time his son was  very ill. We both shed tears in my office the day Terry told me his son had passed away.

Terry was my assistant at Buick Motors during the time his infant son was having his final struggle with life. I remember Terry telling how  he was holding  his baby boy in his arms when he reached out to him during his final moments.  Terry and  I were not ashamed of the tears we both shed at that time.

I met Mr Smith when I became his daughter (Shelley) best friend around 27 years ago. Mr. Smith was a one of a kind person. He had the best personality and sense of humor.  And laugh, he had the best laugh. 
Nothing ever went over his head, and was always quick with a good one liner- he had some zingers.  And then the sarcasm. He pretty much had that mastered. Truly one of the best. If his sarcasm went over some people's head, there was always a great facial expression for them to catch on,  sometimes a eye roll, and then always turns his head to the side with disbelief.  I seen that look often when Shelley and I would proclaim our innocence for something and he would believe us in the most sarcastic way. 
And I loved to hear Mr Smith stories. He shared many good hunting stories. I even got to eat his kara boo burger he killed and made for us. 
I really enjoyed spending time with Mr and Mrs Smith at their home on Torch Lake.
I am deeply sorry to the family for their loss of a good man. 

I am a friend of Shelley’s and met her dad through her. I remember our trip to see The Wiggles when Matthew, and my son Jake, were 4 years old.  We went to The Rainforest Cafe for lunch and Terry followed lil’ Matthew and Jake around asking what they wanted as a souvenir because he wanted to buy them something. 

I also remember us all going out on Torch Lake to swim and relax. Terry loved showing the kids around the lake and letting them “drive” the boat. 

I will always remember his laugh and that he always, ALWAYS had something to say. He loved his family so very very  much  and he and his presence with certainly be missed. 

My late husband Dave and I met Terry and Brenda while on a tour to France in 2015.  The word that describes my first impression of Terry is gregarious - and I still think of him that way.  He was outgoing, comfortable talking to new acquaintances, and very social.  As I got to know Terry, I realized that he was very proud of his business career, his military service, but, most of all, he was proud of his family.  Terry so enjoyed talking to my husband, who was a career soldier in the Army.   When my husband passed away, Terry and Brenda flew to Tennessee to attend his services, and forever endeared themselves to me.  I am so thankful to have continued our friendship through the years, and to have known Terry Smith.  Brenda, I look forward to our continued friendship.
Love from Tennessee,
Linda Flippo

Don & I first met Terry & Brenda, in 2015 in France!!
We were on a tour thru France and they happen to be on the bus!!
Terry was such a character!   We enjoyed getting to know them over the next 14 days we were together!!   
They became good travel friends!!!
Due to living in different states, we could not see them like we would have liked.  But stayed in touch!
So enjoyed having dinner with you a couple of weeks ago!
If we can do anything, please feel free to contact us.
Hopefully, you can travel with us again sometime!!
Our sympathy goes out to you!
Don & Janis Clark

Became acquainted with Terry through activities at The First Presbyterian Church in Elk Rapids.  We had common interests which included hunting.  A drive to and return from Utah produced a trophy Elk for Terry.  After six days in a car and a week of hunting there weren't too many things we didn't know about each other.  Opening day at Fenway against the Yankees and typical touring around Boston were enjoyed with Brenda and Connie.  Terry was a Harry Potter devotee and an authority on St. Francis football.  Sadly the Utah hunt was Terry's last as his physical limitations increased.  A unique guy who will be missed.

From the moment I met Terry, it was immediately clear to me how special this man truly was; and how blessed I am to have known him.  He was always kind to me, and lived his life with the utmost respect for other people. I will never forget watching him be Santa Claus for all the children in Elk Rapids. He held both of my daughters for their first Christmas visit to Santa, and he was certainly jolly! His pious nature was truly inspiring, and his gratitude for the life he lived was unwavering. I will always think of the friend that I lost; I may cry, but I will always smile and definitely laugh when I think ever so fondly of him. He will always be in my thoughts and prayers!

The first time I met Terry he almost made me cry.  He and Brenda had come into the nusery to shop for trees.  He was loud and I thought, argumentative.  But the more we talked, the more I got to know the real Terry.  After that first encounter, I looked forward to his and Brendas' visits.  We would talk about his latest hunting adventure and their newest vacation plans.  Later we talked about our families and I will always remember Terry's kind words after my mom and dad passed.  Our talks were of all sorts of things, from the politics of the day, to spiritual topics.  He and Brenda were always a welcome sight at our TC store.  They would stop by after breakfast or lunch at Randys Diner and the crew would gather around for a chat and usually a joke or two.  We loved hearing about vacations and everyday ordinary stuff.  Terry, I will miss you, gruff exterior and teddy bear interior.  Go with God my friend and if you get the chance, say hi to my mom and dad! 

I was married to Terry for 50 years.  He put up with all the cats and dogs I've had over the years, but he loved them just as much as I did.  We traveled a lot during our time together until he wasn't able to, but I'll always have those amazing memories.
I love him and miss him.

I remember when I used to go to his house in the mornings when I didn’t go to school because I was to young and after a nice breakfast we would just spend all day just watching cartoons and playing with puzzles until it was time for me to leave and I think that I didn’t spend enough time with him when I became a teenager and I regret it but I’ll always have my memories of him to remember the time I did spend with him. I’ll always love my grandpa Smith no matter where he is.

Some of my fondest memories of my father and the most important ones are when I was an adult. I'm his eldest daughter and he would come down and have dinner with me whenever he could, see I live in Durand Michigan and whenever he would come down he would invite me out to dinner and we would talk talk talk for hours in a large crowded restaurant. Before we knew it we would look up and the restaurant would be empty and the people who work there would be cleaning up. I so enjoyed our talks, our visits and our late night texting and our forgiving each other for our past mistakes. Sometimes he made me mad but most of the time he made me laugh. Thank you Brenda for sharing him through all those dinners with me, I'm sure you were bored as heck.

As a neighbor Terry was most helpful and kind. He ( and Brenda) showed me great local places where we enjoyed some delicious meals. He also showed me some reliable local businesses shortly after I moved here. We would often banter through the trees separating our homes during the good weather days. He was a kind and generous person and I will miss him greatly.

This photo was taken of my father and I back in December of 1965. My name is Jennifer and I am the eldest daughter of Terry. Story of the picture is I went outside to play during the winter it was December and I was about not quite 2 years old yet and I seen this huge icicle hanging from our house and I thought it was so cool and I ran into tell my dad and he got his coat and boots on and went out and grabbed that icicle for me and brought it into the house. I can remember thinking how cool it was and how big it was and I was just so excited about that. The smile and excitement in my face really does say it all. He will be missed by me greatly. I love you Dad.

We have fond memories of Terry as we traveled together with Brenda and him to Alaska in 2010.  So many interesting conversations!   And then, because of shared love for baseball, we four witnessed opening day in Boston in 2011.  Terry was enthusiastically filled with baseball knowledge!   We both appreciated Terry’s willingness to try new things as we traveled.   When church resumes full time in person, it will be sad to see the empty seat where he sat each week for years.  No one will fill that seat as he did.  Terry was beyond fortunate to have Brenda at his side always.  He was blessed with her.   We will miss Terry but know he was welcomed into heaven with God’s open arms.   

The people who have made an impression on me number in the hundreds.  The number who have made an impact on my life is in single digits, and Terry Smith is among them.  From the moment I had to tell him, "Terry, you really do wear a 48 portly short sportcoat!" to our last "Goodbye" after our final St. Francis football game together, Terry Smith never failed to teach me something about life.  Always sure of himself - whether giving an oration about  his high school days or contemplating what to order from Randy's Diner - I listened to hunting stories, successful sales, who should be our next president.....but his greatest tales were when he told me about his family.  It was then the crusty old curmudgeon exposed his softer side, beaming with pride, looking forward to the next time they would get together.  I will always cherish his wisdom, strength, and courage.  Terry Smith was, and will always be, a role model of what it takes to be true to yourself, and to be a man.  Godspeed, good friend.  Till we meet again.....

So many memories... My dad and I had a great relationship.  He always had my back and was there for me whenever I needed something.  I have so many memories of him.  We did a lot together.  Family was important and he would spend as much time as he could with me and my boys.  He taught them how to balance spoons on their noses and blow the straw paper at me!  He gave me a love for vacationing, eating out and going to the movies.  He could be grumpy and loud but he had a heart of gold.  He was always willing to help and loved doing so.  You could find him petting his dogs or cats when he wasn't up doing something around the yard.  I will miss my  dad so much.  My heart hurts.

When I was younger Grandpa took me on a trip to Yosemite National Park. It's a trip I look back on fondly. Though I can't quite remember which was brighter: the stunning western skies or his great white smile that only he could pull off. 

OBITUARY

Terry Smith

26 August, 1942 – 19 October, 2020

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