Randall James Smith

Randy earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University, where he met the love of his life, Laura. Together, they shared a beautiful life and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year.

He began his career as a welder at the G.M. Willow Run facility. After 10 years with G.M., he accepted a position in materials with Lear Corporation. During his time at Lear, he worked as a plant manager in Louisville, Grand Rapids, and Kitchner, Ontario. In his last position, he served as the Director of North American Operations, where he was respected for his strong leadership, steady guidance, and unwavering commitment to excellence. A natural problem solver, Randy had a gift for turning even the most difficult challenges into successes.

Randy had a passion for fishing, boating and spending time up north. Above all, he was a devoted husband, proud father, and loving grandfather. He found his greatest joy in time spent with his family, especially his 8 cherished grandchildren.

Beloved husband of Laura; loving father of Matthew and Maria Smith, Kristen and Shad Selleck, Andrew and Jennifer Smith; proud grandfather of Natalie, Nicholas, Dimitriy, and Anya Smith, Drake and Liam Selleck and Brooklyn and Madison Smith; brother of Douglas Smith, Beth (George Duarte) McCormick and Darryl (Cathy) Smith. He is also survived by his nephews Justin (Wendy) and Steven (Lauren) Smith.

The Funeral Service will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Union Lake Chapel of the Elton Black and Son Funeral Home, 1233 Union Lake Rd., White Lake, Michigan 48386. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Friday, April 10, 2026 and on Saturday April 11, 2026 from 10:00 am until the time of service.

Interment will be at 1:00 pm on Monday, April 13, 2026 at Glendale Cemetery, 2500 Mt. Hope Rd, Okemos, MI 48864.

Funeral Service Eulogy

Today, on behalf of my mom and my siblings, I want to thank all of you for being here to honor my dad. Seeing so many people here today is a reflection of the impact he had on all of our lives. It means more to our family than I can put into words, and it’s something we will forever be grateful for.

My father was an amazing man, and I am so lucky to be his son. I’d like to share a few of the lessons and values he gave to us and to everyone lucky enough to know him.

He taught us about hard work. He used to say, “Nothing in life is free. You have to work for the things you value most.” And he believed that. But if he were here, he wouldn’t want us to talk about his job or the long hours he would put in at the office. Yes, he was highly successful as a professional. But real work for him was about what you gave to the people you loved. It was the work around the clock that he put into being a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a Christian. We know these roles are not always easy, but they were the ones that were most rewarding to him.

In fact, my parents always say, “We are rich.” And they don’t mean financially. They mean rich in love, in family, and in the life they built together. That’s something I carry with me every day. Family was everything to my dad. He didn’t just say it, he lived it. He showed up, every day, in all the ways that mattered. Whether it was taking us out on the boat for some skiing after work, teaching us how to fish, playing baseball in the yard, or being there with advice or support well into our adulthood….those were the moments that defined him. He was my rock, and his love for his family has become the foundation for our families.

When it came to his family, a smile or a hug was what he lived for. Towards the end as we were losing him little by little, one thing that never changed was his smile. Every time I saw him, he would say, “I love you. Thanks for coming. When are you coming back?” That was who he was…grateful, loving, and always thinking of others.

And his grandkids… they meant the world to him. All 8 of them. He would light up when he saw them. Even if he didn’t remember their names, he knew they were part of his family and the joy they shared together is something I’ll never forget. Natalie, Drake, Nicolas, Liam, Dimitriy, Anya, Brooklyn and Maddie – grandpa loved you so very much. Keep him in your hearts.

Another thing my dad taught me was about true happiness. He showed me that it isn’t about possessions, stock portfolios, or awards…it’s about making other people happy, changing lives for the better in big ways and little one, with his family or complete strangers. He was always there to help, to support, to lift others up. Whether it was taking my sibling’s families on vacation to Dollywood, buying a meal and a monthly bus pass for a homeless woman outside of Summit Place Mall in Waterford, or sponsoring a child named Grace in Africa, he made lives better. He never hesitated to help. He also never wanted credit or recognition for his generosity. He recognized the Lord blessed him with the means, and he had a responsibility to share those blessings with others. And today, as I reflect on my own life, I see this theme of achieving happiness in serving others throughout.

In his final moments, I learned my last and greatest lesson from him—what pure, unconditional love really looks like. Mom, I want to thank you. For the way you cared for Dad… you gave him everything. You kept him safe, you kept him active, and you brought joy to his days. And in those final hours, the love and strength you showed….the way you supported him and helped him find peace…it was indescribable, but I knew Jesus was with us. Pure, selfless love was the most beautiful and heartbreaking thing I have ever witnessed. It’s something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

That’s who he was. A man who gave everything he had to his family. A man who loved deeply. A man who made all of our lives better.

Dad, I love you. Thank you for everything.