EAST BERNE — Michael E. Smith, who was happiest at Warners Lake, died peacefully at Memorial Hospital on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, after a long illness. He was 62.

He was born on Nov. 28, 1952 to Norman C. and the late Mary Geier Smith, in Albany. A graduate of Christian Brothers Academy, he attended The College of Saint Rose.

He married Deborah Hughes on June 18, 1976, in a double wedding ceremony with her sister, Maureen.  The couple first resided in Medusa where, as a new father, he served as captain in the volunteer fire department.

He retired from Royal Metal Products in Surprise, New York in 2009.

“Michael was happiest at his home on Warners Lake, where he lived his summers as a child, and moved his family permanently in 1984,” his family wrote in a tribute. “He enjoyed all aspects of lake life, snowmobiling, and listening to music with family and friends. “

He is survived by his children, Michael and his wife, Emily, Jennifer and her husband, Brandon, Christopher and his wife, Amanda, and Ryan and his wife, Nancy. He was the proud grandfather of Clay; Noah; Iain; Finn; Cooper; and Hannah, born Aug. 5.

He is survived, too, by his siblings, Patty Willsey, Richard Smith, and Lisa Cavanaugh; the Hughes family; aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of nieces and nephews.

His wife, Debbie, died in 1989.

The family thanks Anna and Karolyn for the wonderful care they provided Michael in the last year of his illness.

Calling hours were held on Monday at Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont and funeral services were held on Tuesday, also at the funeral home, with internment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Berne. For online condolences, visit FredendallFuneralHome.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to Helderberg Ambulance, 978 Cole Hill Road
Berne, NY 12023.