Jerry Smith, 83
Born: May 29,1928
Died: May 18, 2012

Jerry Smith, 83, from Niles and Deland, Fla., passed away unexpectedly May 18, 2012, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, Ind.

Born on May 29, 1928, in Kessington, Mich., he was the son of Clair Oscar and Edna Louise (Hiatt) Smith.

He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Margaret Stoeckinger Baxter and Vera (Robert) Freimund, and brother, Kenneth Smith.

On July 3, 1948, Jerry married his wife of 63 years and the love of his life, Betty Joyce Eberhart. She survives along with their two daughters, Christine Kay S. (Dr. Phillip) Hecht, of Berrien Springs, and LuAnn S. (Richard) VanDalsen, of Niles; four grandchildren, Tiffany K. Carver, of Macon, Ga., Kimberly Ann Smith (James Allen II) Klett, of Niles, Jerrad T. Grinstead, from Berrien Springs, and Fallon Victoria Coody, of Niles; four great-grandchildren, Courtney Kay Haggard, of Macon Ga., Cole A. Carver, of Wray, Ga., and Benjamin M. Kubal and McKenna Kay Klett, both of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.

Jerry loved his family more than anything, which was very evident for everyone to see and admire; they were always together. He was an incredible and generous husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, whose loss is in-measurable. He had four generations living on his farm in Niles.

He was very involved with horses all of his life. He broke many world records with his heavyweight pulling teams and owned and trained world champion Standardbred Pacers: Crash, Storm Damage, Redskin and many stake winners. One of his horses is in the Guinness World Record book!

He was currently racing his stable of horses at Hoosier Park in Anderson, Ind.

He was a member of The United States Trotting Association, Michigan Harness Horse Association, The Michiana Two Cylinder Club and served for many years on the Cass County Fair Board. He was inducted into the Michigan Harness Horse Hall of Fame.

He was a pilot and enjoyed boating. He was the owner of Smith Construction, builder of roads and state highways. He was also the owner of American Aggregate, Inc., of Niles.

Visitation has been set for Sunday, June 3, from 1 to 3 p.m., with a celebration of Jerry’s life at 3 p.m., at McGann Hay Funerals/Cremations/Gatherings, Granger Chapel, 13260 SR 23 (enter off Cherry Road).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jerry’s memory to: Standardbred Retirement Foundation, 108 F. Old York Rd., Hamilton, NJ, 08620. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.McGannHay.com.