Dennis Dale Smith, 70, passed away peacefully at home in Munson on Sunday August 27, 2023 after a brave fight with pancreatic cancer. Dennis was born March 17, 1953 to Donald and Edna (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 he became a journeyman carpenter. In the 1970’s and 80’s, 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, he 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. Dennis 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 is also survived by daughter-in-love, Catherine Lux and her son Jameson; his siblings Donna (Dave) Zuro, Daniel (Ellen) Smith, Deanna (Ken) Baker; and 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 (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.

Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on September 9,  2023 at the Chardon United Methodist Church, 515 North Street, Chardon, OH  44024 with a burial to follow.

Arrangements made by the Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Chardon, Ohio.

Information and condolences on-line at www.burrservice.com.

“You may be gone

but my darling

you’re ever

all around.”