Roger Brice Smith

February 10, 1941 – February 28, 2026

Roger Brice Smith, age 85, of East Lansing, Michigan, passed away on February 28, 2026. Roger was born on February 10, 1941, in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, to Harry Brice Smith and June Ellen Berry.

Roger was a man of firm convictions who was unapologetically himself. After losing his mother at a young age, he struck out on his own at seventeen, serving in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy before eventually settling in Michigan. He spent his professional career in industrial sales, specializing in machine tools.

In his younger years, Roger lived in Northville and was active in the town’s hot rod culture. He maintained a deep appreciation for automobiles and mechanical craft throughout his life. He and his wife, Leonora, also shared a great love for the cottage they built together in Pointe Aux Chenes in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The home he shared with Leonora in East Lansing’s Flowerpot neighborhood served as a salon for the arts, where in recent years Roger hosted friends for music and creative exchange. A lifelong student of expression, he dabbled in a wide variety of crafts, including glass blowing, stained glass, painting, sketching, and pottery. A devoted amateur photographer, he was proud to have had his work featured in a gallery showing. He was also an eager musician, playing the ukulele, guitar, and drums for his own enjoyment.

In his later years, Roger was surrounded by a devoted circle of friends and an extended family of the heart who provided constant companionship. This community, including his regular coffee group, remained a vital part of his daily life. Roger was also a dedicated basketball fan and a loyal supporter of Michigan State University sports.

Roger had a long-standing love for animals, specifically his Belgian Tervurens: Jeep, Arrow, and Lyric. In recent years, he found a dedicated companion in his cat, Levi, whose dog-like personality made him Roger’s constant buddy. A man of principle, Roger cared deeply about social justice and supported these causes through personal advocacy and quiet generosity.

Roger was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Leonora Harris Smith. The last member of his birth family, Roger is survived by those he considered his own: his son, John Anderson (Patricia Walker); his granddaughter, Jane-Marie Walker-Anderson Auret (Tahmeed Hossain); and his great-granddaughter, Vivienne Adeeba Hossain-Auret. He is also survived by his brother, Richard Stuber, with whom he shared a close and lifelong bond, and Richard's wife, Elsa.

An informal Remembrance will be held on April 18, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Gorsline Runciman East Chapel, 1730 East Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823. In lieu of flowers, donations in Roger’s memory may be made to an organization of your choice that supports social justice or the arts.