J Michael Smith

October 25, 1942 - June 3, 2023

J. Michael Smith (Mike) 80, passed away peacefully June 3, 2023. He was born in Lufkin, Texas, October 25, 1942. Raised in Amarillo, Texas, his father’s work took the family to Billings, Montana, where Mike spent his high school years and graduated from Billings Senior High in 1961. He was an avid sportsman taking part in most sports offered. As a boy scout, he prevailed in becoming an Eagle Scout. A football scholarship took him to Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, then to Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, where he graduated with a BA and a MA in S. American history. Mike and Joan La Rue were married while in college. After graduation and work, with two lovely daughters, Jennifer Kay & Kathryn Marie, in tow, we were off to travel the world!

Mike worked for the U.S. Government for nearly 30 years. He LOVED his job including studying and speaking Spanish, French, Kiswahili, & Indonesian. His work travels took us to E. Africa, where he taught history classes and received his Ph.D in British Colony History at Makerere University, and S.E. Asian countries as well as S. America. Mike’s work contributed to the safety of our great nation.

Then there was his rugby career. He LOVED this sport. Every rugby pitch, in the countries of our travels including N. California, found him playing the game. He won many awards. Youth rugby in California benefited from his instruction and discipline. Mike also managed the U.S. Eagles national rugby team.

In his retirement, Mike became the cowboy he always wanted to be, enjoying his horses, even providing for his granddaughters to learn to ride at very young ages. Attending rugby matches around the country and the world also filled his time!

Mike will be remembered for his devotion to and love for his family, his intelligence, his mischievousness and humor, AND his love for his country especially his Lone Star State, Texas.

Preceding him in death were his parents Jack & Jimmie Kay Smith, aunts, uncles, & cousins. Left to mourn are Joan, (married for 59 years,) Jennifer Connon, Katy Escobar, granddaughters Alex & Annie Escobar, Abbie the dog and best friend, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Mary Ann(La Rue) & Fred Pleger, cousins, nieces and families, and a host of special friends and very loyal former work colleagues.

Cremation has taken place; the ashes buried in Crawford, Texas, along side his parents.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimer/Dementia Support Center, Inc. Modesto, CA, adsc-Modesto.org. 209.577.0018 or the Rugby NorCal Youth Program,P.O. Box 2059, Loomis,

CA 95650 or gofund. me/3073ec3b