Michael “Mike” Wayne Smith, 72, of Cheyenne, OK, passed away on Monday, December 14, 2020. Mike was born March 1, 1948, in Elk City, OK, to the late Doyle Leroy Smith and Mary “Pauline” Jencks Smith, where he was raised with his three siblings through elementary school. In 1960, Mike and his family moved to Torreón AFB, Madrid, Spain, where Doyle worked for the Civil Service. While in Madrid, Mike became fluent in Spanish and developed a love for music, mastering both the piano and accordion. This is also where he acquired his beloved bright red accordion, which he played through his adult years, entertaining residents of Elk City nursing homes with his rendition of “old timey” gospel songs.
Mike returned to Elk City for high school, participating in athletics and FFA. Following graduation in May 1966, Mike joined the U. S. Army Security Agency and took his first duty post at Torii Station, Okinawa, followed by service in both Vietnam and Thailand. Mike married his high school sweetheart, Rebecca “Beckey” Marable on June 8, 1967, and she joined him in Okinawa in August 1967. Ever ambitious, after returning to the United States, Mike attended Infantry Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Columbus, GA, and earned the rank of Second Lieutenant on March 6, 1970.
Following one final tour in IndoChina, Mike received an honorable discharge on July 15, 1972, returning to the United States to live with his wife and toddler son. In the time following his Army service, Mike earned degrees in both Theology and Nursing and had fulfilling careers in the oil, restaurant, and health care industries, all while raising four boys. His most cherished times were teaching the Boys Sunday school Class at Cheyenne First Baptist, working alongside his father for Parker Drilling Co., nursing at the Roger Mills Memorial Hospital, and as the owner and operator of The Pizza Place in Cheyenne, OK.
Mike is survived by his wife, Beckey Smith (Cheyenne, OK), his four sons and their spouses, Aaron and Melanie Smith (Argyle, TX) Andrew Smith (Cripple Creek, CO), Jonathan and Tara Smith (Edmond, OK), James and Dr. Sarah Smith (OK City); seven grandchildren: Sydney Smith, Maryn Smith, Laren Smith, Elliott Smith, Cole Wolf, Thatcher Wolf, and Adelynne Smith; his mother, Pauline Smith (Cheyenne, OK), and his three siblings and their families, Deborah Whinery (Sayre, OK), Timothy Smith (Sayre, OK), Rebecca Downs (Phoenix, AZ). Mike is preceded in death by his father, Doyle Smith (Cheyenne, OK).