Thomas A. Smith

Thomas Agur Smith, 64, of Sodus, passed from this life surrounded by the love of the family and friends who cared so much for him. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10 A.M. Friday, February 11, 2005 at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Sodus. Friends may call from 5-8 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home, Animal Aid, or The First Church of Christ, Scientist of Benton Harbor. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Tom was born June 15, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan to Harry James & Dorothy (Bowles) Smith. He spent his early years living in Detroit, and then Onoway, before moving to Adrian, where he graduated from Adrian High School in 1958. After living in Glen Arbor and then St. Joseph, Tom graduated from Western Michigan University in 1965. He taught school at the elementary level for Galien and Benton Harbor Area Schools until 1985, when he took a job with what is now Haviland Callan Allied Van Lines. Tom later joined the staff of the Benton Harbor Sears Roebuck Department Store, working in the Auto Center, then in the appliance department where he was currently employed. Tom was for many years the Sodus Township Ordinance Enforcement officer, and also owned a storage business. Tom loved working on antique cars, & spending many hours with Cyndi ?junk-yarding?, looking for that one special needed part. Until his illness, he was restoring a 1941 Oldsmobile, and for forty years, maintained a 1964 Dodge Convertible. He was a 1980 charter member and current vice-president of Southwestern Michigan Car Collectors. There wasn?t much that Tom couldn?t do, from building his own home, rehabbing buildings and cars, to playing the piano. On December 27, 1969, he married Cynthia Marie ?Cyndi? Strasburg in St. Joseph. She survives, along with daughter Catherine Marie (Charles) Hoch of St. Joseph, son David Bryan Smith, at home, grandson Brendan Matthew Hoch and step-grandson Charles Alexander Hoch of St. Joseph, and granddaughter Crystal Marie Smith who lives with her dad at her grandpa?s house. Also surviving are his mother Dorothy Smith and sister Sandra (Cole) Tyrrell of South Haven, an aunt and several cousins. Tom was preceded in death by his father Harry Smith in 1985. Rest easy, beloved husband. You worked so hard during your life. Some one, somewhere will finish that ?41 Olds for you. He was a wonderful father and role model who always gave so much of himself to be there for his children. He was much loved & appreciated & will be terribly missed.