Dennis Dale Smith, age 70, passed away peacefully at home in Munson Township on Aug. 27, 2023, after a brave fight with pancreatic cancer.
Dennis was born March 17, 1953, to Donald and Edna (nee Jackson) Smith.
He was a 1971 graduate of Euclid High School. At age 15, while a student at EHS, he met the love of his life, Kay Fagan. They were married in 1974.
After graduating, Dennis became a journeyman carpenter. In the 1970s and 1980s, Dennis and Kay lived in a house in North Anson, Maine, that they built themselves. While living in Maine, he built cabins, worked on dams and helped build the hotel at Sugarloaf Mountain.
Dennis and Kay moved back to Ohio in 1988, and Dennis formed Smithco Builders. While his first love was historic preservation, Smithco also ended up building many homes, condominiums and medical and VA clinics. He was chosen as builder of the month in November 1997 by Builder/Architect magazine.
While running Smithco Builders, Dennis renovated his now nearly 200-year-old century home in Munson. It was both his labor of love and his albatross which he worked on continuously for 35 years.
Dennis’s passion for historic preservation went hand in hand with his passion for history and genealogy. He paid tribute to his ancestors by tracing his family tree and participating in American war reenactments from the French and Indian War to the Civil War. He was generous with his time and research skills, and often helped others discover their own family history. He was recently accepted into the Sons of the American Revolution.
Above all else, Dennis will be remembered for his humor, storytelling and the love he had for his friends and family.
Dennis mentored many in carpentry and construction, sharing his experience and making lifelong friends along the way. He took great pride in his home, yard and gardens.
He was surrounded by friends whom he loved like brothers, and his children’s friends considered him a bonus dad.
Dennis is survived by his wife of 49 years, Kay; and daughter, Tara (Jason) Carlson. The joy of his life was being Papa to Henry and Laina Carlson. He also is survived by daughter-in-love, Catherine Lux and her son, Jameson; siblings Donna (Dave) Zuro, Daniel (Ellen) Smith, Deanna (Ken) Baker; brother-in-law Bill (Sha) Fagan; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and too many friends to name.
Dennis was predeceased by his sons, Devin and Rory, both taken by cancer; as well as his parents, Donald and Edna (nee Jackson) Smith; brother Allen Smith; and brother-in-law Jeff Fagan.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Red Tulip Project (https://redtulipproject.com) in Chardon.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Sept. 9, 2023, at Chardon United Methodist Church, 515 North St., Chardon, with a burial to follow.
Arrangements made by Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Chardon. Information and condolences online at www.burrservice.com.
“You may be gone but my darling you’re ever all around.”
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