Avis de décès de Michael-A. Smith - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

->Smith, Michael A.Age 52, of Campbell, NY, passed away Saturday, April 2, 2011, at the Cleveland Clinic with his wife by his side. Mike's passing followed an eight-year battle with a complex and challenging illness. Mike was born March 18, 1959 in Corning, NY, and was the eldest son of Elmer and Carol (Allen) Smith of Campbell, NY. He graduated from Campbell Central School in 1977. In 1978 Mike joined the U.S. Air Force and was later stationed at R.A.F. Alconbury, Cambridgeshire, England, and was assigned to the 10th Security Police Squadron. While stationed in England, he met and married Karen Davies. The two were married in August of 1980 in Corby, England and returned to the States in October of 1980 to McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kansas. In February of 1982 he returned to NY and entered into business with his brother and father at Curtisdale Farm, where he spent almost 20 years helping build a modern, successful dairy farm. In 1995 Mike decided to pursue a life-long dream of building a log home by enrolling in The Great Lakes School of Log Building in Isabella, Minnesota where he studied how to build Scandinavian full-scribe structures. He used this experience to build a log home for his family, which was completed in the fall of 1999. Upon the dissolution of Curtisdale Farm in 2000, Mike worked for a time at Campbell Building Supply. Most recently, Mike worked as a self-employed carpenter alongside his friend, Steve Higbie. Besides his incredible vision and talent for creating furniture and structures from nature, Mike will also be remembered for his eclectic interests and hobbies. Some such interests included making maple syrup, searching for arrowheads, collecting antique bottles, tending to his vegetable garden, listening to local folk musicians, traveling to national parks, kayaking and hiking. He was often accompanied by his life-long friend, Bob Smith. He had a deep appreciation for nature and felt most at home on Lows Lake in the Adirondacks. He took great joy in his annual canoe and kayak trips to the Adirondacks with friends: Steve and John Higbie, Shawn Shutt; cousins: Randy and Mark Allen; and brother, Robin Smith. Mike connected with a variety of people from all walks of life. He will be especially remembered by the men he served with in the 10th S.P.S. and for the friendships he shared, and will be deeply missed as a loving husband, father, son and brother. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Karen (Davies) Smith of Campbell, NY; two daughters: Sarah Louise (Shawn) Smith of Painted Post, NY, Kerry Faye (Kevin) Smith of Endicott, NY; his parents, Elmer and Carol (Allen) Smith of Campbell, NY; brother, Dennis (Karen) Smith of Campbell, NY; sister, Wendy (Larry) Rogers of Painted Post, NY; brother, Robin (Debbie) Smith of Campbell, NY; nephews: Matthew and Jason Smith of Campbell, NY; and brother-in-law, Dennis (Lorraine) Davies of Corby, England. He was predeceased by his father and mother-in-law, William (Margaret) Davies of Corby, England. Family and friends are invited to call at Phillips Funeral Home, 17 W. Pulteney St., Corning, NY on Friday, April 15, 2011, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Phillips Funeral Home on Saturday, April 16, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. Donations can be made in Mike's memory to the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, PO Box 65 / 8 Nature Way, Keene Valley, NY 12943; 1-800-266-2082 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-800-266-2082      end_of_the_skype_highlighting; www.nature.org/adirondacks.