Michael Smith

Michael Eugene “Mike” Smith was born in San Antonio, Texas, on March 25, 1952, to Mr. & Mrs. Pinkie and Geraldine Smith. As a little boy, Michael grew up helping in his father’s many businesses and, like his father, was blessed with “the gift of gab.” Mike could talk on any subject. Proud of his Texas heritage, he loved to talk about his paternal grandfather, who owned farmland and a grocery store in Bay City, Texas, and his paternal great-grandfather, Pleas Smith, who was a cook on the Chisholm Trail for seven of the trail drives.

Michael graduated from Highlands High School, in San Antonio, where he excelled in the ROTC program. After graduation, he pursued his dream of entering the United States Marine Corp; however, but due to a health issue, that was not to be. From an early age, Mike showed an aptitude to “fix things,” always tinkering with old appliances, so he pivoted and entered the IBEW’s apprenticeship program, as a journeyman, and began a lifelong career with all-things electronic. He became proficient at electrical design, as well as, installing electrical wiring and telephone lines, repairing any type of electronic equipment, including personal computers and laptops and installing computer networks and satellite and cable lines.

He developed a deep and lifelong love for music, played the oboe in high school and became a jazz aficionado. Michael soon started working at radio stations in the San Antonio area learning to install radio equipment & served a long stint as an operations manager and computer system administrator for Texas Public Radio. He soon began a side career as a radio announcer at San Antonio radio KTUF in the 70s, playing his beloved jazz. He was later hired by IBM and spent 10 years as a computer technician and customer service representative before moving to the Bandera /Medina area. He spent seven years as the technology coordinator for the Medina Independent School District, where he set up their computer lab and instilled his love of computers to his high school students, teaching them the intricacies of how to build personal computers from the ground up, as well as, installing software. In 2004, Mike decided to open his own computer repair business, Smith Computer Service, and served many local businesses, the Bandera County Courthouse, and a host of private citizens by providing on-site computer and systems repair, Web site design, upgrades, and network installs. One of his jobs let to him being asked to host a jazz show on a Kerrville radio station. His business was very successful for more than 12 years.

Always with a heart to serve others, Michael was a fantastic cook. He baked, loved to barbeque, and was always called upon to make a huge batch of enchiladas or a pan of “Pinkie Smith” dressing for family gatherings. He was active for several years at St. Christopher’s Church in Bandera and volunteered to help with many of their fundraisers. Mike began to volunteer with the Arthur Nagel Community Clinic and was instrumental in helping with fundraising efforts and designing and installing the computer network system. He soon became a member of the board of directors at the clinic, where he served tirelessly for many years until he began to lose his vision around late 2017-early 2018.

Michael, a kind and gentle, loving, and compassionate spirit, always led with his heart…always quickly volunteered to help others. He was witty and had a wonderful sense of humor and could “hold forth” on subjects near and dear to his heart. He and his sister were reared in the church and were baptized together at an early age at Mt. Zion First Baptist Church in San Antonio. He was deeply loved by those who knew him and worked with him. He will be profoundly missed. One of six children, Michael peacefully transitioned on May 6, 2022, and leaves behind two sons, Matthew and Malcolm, a sister, Suzanne Smith-Wigfall, of Atlanta, a sister-in-law, Patricia Smith, of San Antonio, a host of nieces, nephews and cousins and many lifelong friends and neighbors who fondly remember. Instead of flowers, please direct donations to the Arthur Nagel Community Clinic or The Society for the Blind.

Rest in peace, dear brother. You are absent from the body, but you are surely present with the Lord.

“Don’t think of him as gone away, his journey’s just begun

Life holds so many facets; this Earth is only one

Just think of him as resting from the sorrows & the tears

In a place of warmth and comfort, where there are no days or years

And think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched

For nothing loved is ever lost, and he was loved so much.”

A poem composed by K.L. Stewart