Andrew "Andy" W. Smith
December 19, 1937 — November 23, 2016
Seney
Andrew “Andy” W. Smith III, age 78, of Seney, Michigan, died unexpectedly at his home following an apparent cardiac event on Wednesday, November 23, 2016. Andy was born on December 19, 1937 in Saginaw, Michigan to the late Cedric and Evelyn (Humpert) Smith. He grew up in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michgian and graduated from St. Paul’s Catholic High School. Andy served in the U.S. Navy and when he returned home, he attended Northern Michigan University. It was there he met and married Nancy Devonshire. They returned to Grosse Pointe Farms and raised their six children. Andy was employed by the Coca Cola Bottling Company in Special Events, until 1964 when he began his career with Frank’s Nursery & Crafts, where he managed several stores in the Detroit area over the next 20 years. In the late eighties he continued his love of growing and caring for all things green while working at Meldrum’s Nursery. He then returned to the U.P. in the late eighties, when he moved into the hunting camp in Seney, which has been in the family since 1901. Andy tended bar, and made many friends, at Andy’s Seney Bar for many years, He had a green thumb and enjoyed growing plants, vegetables and flowers. Andy was an avid fisherman and hunter; he enjoyed living off the land. In 1998 he married Karen (Schneider) Smith, who preceded him in death in 2012.
Andy is survived by his children – Colleen (Jim) Clark of Marquette, MI, Lori (Tim) Sommerfeld of Knoxville, TN, Steven Smith of Harper Woods, MI, Chuck Smith of Harper Woods, MI, Tom (Jodi) Smith of Caro Twp., MI, and Sandy Smith (Craig Fiebke) of Bay City, MI; seven grandchildren – Christopher (Dola) Tyler, Andrea Tyler, Becca (Garrett) Fowler, Jonathon Sommerfeld, Tyler Smith, Gabriella Smith, and Max Fiebke; nine great-grandchildren; sister – Judy (Michael) Dresden of Detroit, MI; brother Peter Smith of California; numerous nieces and nephews; and his “lovely” ex-wife - Nancy Smith of Holiday, FL. Andy was preceded in death by his parents, wife Karen, and siblings Wendy, Sydney, and Cala.
A Memorial is planned in Seney in 2017. Information will be updated on the website as soon as it is available.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in Andy’s name to the Seney National Wildlife Refuge.