James K Smith's Obituary
It is with profound sadness that the family of James K. Smith announce his passing, from pancreatic cancer, on May 27, 2023 at the age of 75. Also known as Jim, or JK or Smitty, Jim was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Bert and Margaret Smith.
A resident of Homestead, Fla Jim spent his early childhood in Ala, his high school years in Kentucky, and was a proud graduate of Florida State University. He swam competitively in both high school and college where he tried out for the Olympics and, though he didn't qualify for the team, he placed 25th in the USA. After graduating from FSU with a teaching degree he taught physical education and coached swim teams for a few years in Mississippi and Florida. Because teaching didn't pay the bills he moved to Homestead around 1979 and went to work at BellSouth ( later AT&T) as a service technician , retiring from there after 40 years.
It was at the phone company that he met his loving wife of 42 years, Patti (Morits). Jim was also a proud father to son David ( ex. Natalie), and a fun and loving Grandpapa to Emma and Logan Smith. He also leaves behind his brother Mike Smith in Atlanta and his brother-in-law Joe Morits ( Janet ) in Connecticut. He is also survived by several cousins, fishing buddies, and phone company friends. And he will be forever missed by all.
Jim had a passion for fishing and a perfect day was one spent on the water from sunrise to sunset. He wouldn't even let rain, cold weather, or not catching many fish dampen his joy of going fishing.
Jim had a good sense of humor throughout his life. He used that to help himself get through his year and a half battle with pancreatic cancer. He called that battle his new journey, but in the end he lost his valiant fight. Jim was a man of integrity, kind and considerate and always ready to help anyone any way that he could.
His wishes were to be cremated and to not put his family and friends through the stresses of having a funeral service. If you wish to honor his memory , a donation to pancreatic cancer research would be appreciated. And hopefully one day there will be better earlier detection, treatment of, and a cure for this cancer, so that others don't have to suffer from this heinous, insidious disease. A couple worthy organizations are : lustgarten.org or pancan.org Or you can use one of your own choosing.
Jim loved Jimmy Buffett songs and listened to him every chance he got. While looking through his song lyrics for something I could use here, I found a couple verses from Buffett's "The Captain and the Kid" that seem very appropriate:
"He died about a month ago
while winter filled the air,
and though I cried, I was so proud
to love a man so rare.
He's somewhere on the ocean now,
the place he ought to be;
with one hand on the starboard rail,
he's waving back at me."
Rest in peace Jim.....you are, and will be, forever remembered and missed. We love you
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