| Graduation Year | Class of 1973 |
| Date of Passing | Apr 04, 2018 |
| About | There will be services at 3 PM on Saturday April 7, 2018 at Stewart-Kyle Funeral Home in Hubbard for Robert Grey Smith III age 62, of Ravenna who passed away surrounded by his family on Wednesday April 4, 2018 at Hospice Care Center in Akron. Grey was born December 17, 1955 in Pittsburgh, PA a son of Gerald Lee & Dorothy Jean Marsden Smith. Grey has always loved mischief and adventure, which he showed in abundance during his childhood living in Sutersville, PA. He graduated from Yough Senior High School in 1973. He attended Washington & Jefferson College before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1974. Grey met his first wife Kathy while trying (unsuccessfully) to recruit her younger brother. They married in 1977 and had two children, Heather and Megan. Grey left the Marine Corps and began a career in IT, a field in which he worked until his death. He was a respected colleague and friend to his coworkers. Grey was a quintessential camper, and the family spent their summer vacations camping in the woods of Western Pennsylvania. Grey’s favorite place to be in the world was beside a campfire, cooking steaks over the open flame. His daughters, his nieces, and their assorted friends loved his famous nightly campfire stories, in which the girls would partake in numerous adventures, defeating trolls and barbarians (aptly named after all of the uncles) along the way. Grey loved to golf, and his skill in no way diminished his love of ribbing his friends about their game during their annual golfing trip. After the children reached adulthood, Grey was blessed to meet the love of his life in his second wife, Kathleen. They married in 2005. She filled his life with love and fun. Their shared love of music and literature was a gift. But, the course of true love never runs completely smooth, Kat dislikes camping, but does love a great campfire. Their joy and love for one another was an amazing thing to behold for the people around them. Grey began to conquer new adventures during his life with Kat. They traveled, including a visit to Kat’s ancestral home in Germany. Their home welcomed many wanderers and loved ones, as well as their three dogs, Teg, Pippin, and Indiana. Grey became, as his granddaughter called him, an excellent “cooker”, creating new and exciting foods, and perfecting the family favorite rib recipe. Grey was a part of the Sequoia Wellness Community, where he enjoyed yoga and water aerobics. His love of life was undiminished, even when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2015. He will be sadly missed by his family; his wife the former Kathleen Marie Wess; his daughters and their spouses, Heather (Brad) and Megan (Chris); his two grandchildren, Sydney and Nathan; and his sister Lee Ann (Larry); his brothers James (Barbara) and Glen (Dave). There will be calling hours on Saturday April 7, 2018 prior to the service from Noon to 3 PM at Stewart-Kyle Funeral Home. In honor of Grey’s love of color and fun, the family will be wearing tie dye and bright colors in our celebration of his life and invite you to do the same. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider donating in memory of Grey to Portage County Animal Protective League 8122 Infirmary Road Ravenna, Ohio 44266, or American Cancer Society 525 North Broad Street Canfield, Ohio 44406. Family and friends are invited to visit the funeral home’s website at www.stewart-kyle.com to share memories and condolences. |
