Wayne W. Smith, age 67 years, of Westchester Drive, Caro, passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2007 at St. Mary's of Michigan in Saginaw. He was born on October 15, 1939 in Lansing.

Wayne graduated from Lansing Eastern High School [June 1957]. On July 23, 1960 Wayne was united in marriage with Joanne Abel [Lansing Eastern June 1957] at the Pilgrim Congregational Church, Lansing. He attended and received his BA in teaching from Olivet College. The Smiths moved to North Branch where Wayne had his first teaching job, and after two years they moved to Caro. Upon leaving North Branch, Wayne took a position as band director with Kingston Community Schools, a position that he held for 29 years, until his retirement in 1995. He has been a member of the Bay City Second Winds (a community band) for the past five years as a trumpet player. He formed and directed a brass ensemble at his local church, the First Presbyterian Church of Caro, where he also acted as choir director for some years. Wayne also gave private flute and trumpet lessons. He was a past worshipful master of the Kingston Lodge and then a member of the Caro Mt. Moriah Lodge #226 F&AM. He enjoyed fishing and bowling.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Joanne, are three children and their spouses, Cynthia (Jeffrey) Flory of Chesapeake, Virginia, Scott (Rebecca) Smith of Midland, Wayne K. (Kasumi) Smith of Lexington, Massachusetts; nine grandchildren, Jamie, Nina, John, Jesse, Kadi, Isaiah, Christin, Zachary and Karen; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church of Caro with Rev. Melissa DeRosia officiating.

In keeping with Mr. Smith's wishes, cremation will follow the service and burial will take place at Indianfields Township Cemetery.

Visitation will be at the Collon Funeral Home on Tuesday from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m.

There will be a Masonic Memorial Service at the funeral home on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wayne Smith family discretionary fund, c/o Joanne Smith, 692 Westchester Drive, Caro, MI 48723, to go for music scholarships.