Patrick (Pat) Smith

Pat Smith, 64, of Sylvania, passed away on October 13, 2011, after a short illness, at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Pat grew up in Akron, Ohio, and lived throughout the US before settling in Fort Payne over thirty five years ago. He was a veteran of the US Coast Guard, serving on the crew of an ice cutter on Lake Superior before being stationed in Galveston and Corpus Christi, Texas. He was an accomplished and successful businessman. Over the course of his career, he owned and operated a newspaper publishing business, a women's clothing store and USA Knit, a sock mill in Fort Payne, from which he retired in 2009. He served as CFO for Smith Consulting, based in San Antonio, Texas, until his death. Pat was a natural, gifted and talented leader. Throughout his life and career, his quiet strength, character, vision and many talents and skills enabled him to achieve much success and to touch the lives of many others along the way. Pat enjoyed all types of sports and was an avid golfer and fisherman. He loved spending time and traveling with his wife Tara, especially to Mexico. Tara and Pat had recently purchased a home in Crystal River, Florida, where they thoroughly enjoyed boating, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling and manatee watching on Florida’s Nature Coast. Pat will always be remembered for his infectious laugh; quick wit; kind and generous heart; and that special “twinkle” in his eye. He was a warm, caring and committed husband and father, blessed with a wonderful family and many dear friends. He will be sorely and forever missed by his loving and devoted wife, Tara; son Sean (Chrissy) Smith, Crawfordsville, Indiana; daughter Elizabeth (Bill) Ritter, Birmingham, Alabama; his four beautiful grandchildren: Avery, Halle, Brayden and Henry; and Tara’s children, Clay and Adrianne. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Dorothy (Myers) Smith and his brother, Don, and sister, Laurie. He is survived by four brothers David (Patti) Smith, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Michael (Betty Howell) Smith, Tim (Lisa) Smith and Terry (Shari) Smith, Akron, Ohio; a sister, Melanie (Larry) Haymond, Portland, Oregon; and many nieces and nephews living throughout the US. The family will receive friends on Monday, from 4:00 until 7:00 pm, at Wilson Funeral Home (3801 Gault Avenue N). Graveside services will be held at 1:00 pm Tuesday at Glenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Pat’s favorite charity, Smile Train; PO Box 96231; Washington, D.C. 20090-6231 (1-800-932-9541) (www.smiletrain.org).

Patrick (Pat) Smith

October 4, 1947 - October 13, 2011