Gary was a well-read and intelligent man. He earned his Bachelors and Masters degree in business from University of Phoenix, all while helping to raise and provide for his family. His career led him to travel the world to places like Saudi Arabia, Africa, China, Peru, Indonesia, and India to name a few.
Gary was the type of man that was always there when you needed him. He learned everything he could about guitars, softball, and anime to connect with each of his children. Gary was a man with great talent musically. He loved guitars and could play and talk about them for hours. He enjoyed boats, the lake, and being in the mountains.
Gary lived a full life, determined to live, a fighter. When diagnosed with carcinoid, a type of cancer nearly twenty years ago, he took his disease into his own hands. He researched everything he could about carcinoid, ran online support groups, and became an expert of the disease. Never once did he waiver in his determination to live and prove the doctors wrong.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Gary Smith and his wife, Rachel; daughters: Melissa Crawl and her husband, Anthony, and Cassandra Smith; grandchildren: Charlotte and Isla Smith; mother, Lavenia Mae Smith; brother, David Smith; and fiancé, Carol Merriwether.
He was preceded in death by his father, Alfred Ervin Smith.
A celebration of life will be held, 2:00pm, Saturday, August 24, 2019 at Resthaven Funeral Home.
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