Richard "Dick" Eaton Smith, 81, of Pace, FL died peacefully on Thursday, April 8, 2021 following a valiant battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

Dick was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI. Following military service, Dick completed a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and was in the inaugural MBA Class at Grand Valley State University. He retired in 1996 after 30 years in the telephone industry.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents, Frederick Rupert Smith and Virginia Helen Eaton, both of Grand Rapids, MI.

Dick is survived by his wife of 40 years, Diane Graves Smith; brother, David R. Smith (Patricia) of Grand Rapids, MI; son, Karlis D. Smith (Van) of Wylie, TX; daughter, Heidi I. Morell (Jeff) of Custer, MI; grandson, Dillon Laase of Muskegon, MI and best friend, Mark Jackson of Denton, TX.

A lifelong fisherman and lifetime member of Trout Unlimited, Dick requested his ashes be returned to his favorite trout stream, the Little South Branch of the Pere Marquette River.

Donations in Dick's honor may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org) or the Brain Support Network (brainsupportnetwork.org), which coordinates brain donation for research into this horrid disease.

Due to COVID-19, no services will be held at this time. Please have your own Celebration of Life by listening to Paul Simon and Jimmy Buffett, watching the University of Michigan football, reading John Le Carre or J.R. R. Tolkien and toasting Dick with one of his favorite beverages - Root Beer or Guinness.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Shedrick Crosby for the friendship, care and companionship he has provided to Dick over the last several years and Covenant Care Hospice for care, compassion, and support.