"Michael Richard "Mike" Smith, age 69, passed away April 17, 2024, while in hospice care at the OSU Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio. Mike was born in Philadelphia, PA to the late Richard "Dick" & Lorene (Groves) Smith. He is Survived by his wife of 41 years, Jill (Fryer) Smith; his children Kaz M. Bryant, Rachel (Levi) Mathews, and Hayley (Alex) Smith; grandchildren Gwendolyn Bryant, Thomas Bryant II, Michael Bryant, Gabriel Bryant, Twylah Mathews, and August Mathews; nieces Laura Byars and Julie Smetanko; Uncle and Aunt William & Annette Groves; and Cousins Joseph Groves, Yvonne Harris, Bob Smith, Connie Smith, Julie Darling, and David Lumpkin, as well as many friends and extended family. In addition to his parents, Mike was preceded in death by uncles and aunts Jim & Dodie Smith and Donald & Mary Jean Groves, and by his grandchildren Genevive Virginia & Alexander Lawrence Bryant.

Mike had a soft spot for animals. He loved his cats Tulip & Circle Head; his grand-cats Zoe, Bleu, & Peaches (Grandpa's Girl); his grand-dogs Bear, Dashi, & Piper; his Turtle Tuck, and all the squirrels and birds that regularly visited him and the feeders he filled for them over the years.

Friends may call Friday, April 26, 2024 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Evans Funeral Home, 4171 E. Livingston Ave, Columbus, OH, where the funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 10:30 AM with Pastor Paul Barnes officiating. Interment will follow at Glen Rest Memorial Estate.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Capital Area Humane Society or to the James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute in Mike's name."