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Randy Smith
Randy LaVerne Smith, 67, of Custer, passed away on Friday, February 21, 2025. He was born August 28, 1957, the son of LaVerne (Pete) Smith and AprilBelle Sharon (Reene) Smith. Randy graduated from Mason County Eastern High School in 1975.
Having grown up almost next to his grandpa Reene, a second generation water well driller, Randy spent many hours with him from a young age, learning the trade, and eventually pursuing it as a full-time career. Randy was never happier than when he was standing behind a rig drilling a well, putting in a pump, or doing water system repair for someone, right up until the time he could no longer work.
In later years, Randy, along with his sister Renee, took care of their home-bound mother with MS, while also working full-time as a well driller. Randy loved cooking and perfected many dishes that could rival the likes of almost any chef. Many of these dishes contained mushrooms, which for the most part he had picked himself. If Randy had a third passion in life, it was mushroom hunting and picking. He could spot a patch of morel mushrooms 20 yards away, that most people would walk over top of and never even notice.
While to some, Randy’s life in later years had possibly resembled that of a recluse, to Randy, sitting at the kitchen table watching the world go by was just his way of coping with his illness and staying within his comfort zone. He did, however, relish the visits from neighbors, friends, and relatives for coffee, where he would usually have some sweet treat to share, as he also enjoyed baking. Randy especially looked forward to his Sunday morning call from his uncle Lyle. If he hadn’t talked to him by 9 a.m., he would have been calling to check on him.
Randy is survived by his sister, Renee (Matt) Peters; nephews, Cameron Peters, and Sean (Jessica) Peters and their children Judah and Lena; uncle, Lyle (Kris) Reene; numerous cousins; and good friends, Caleb Whitaker and Jeremy Murray, who were like the sons he never had.
Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Laverne (Pete) Smith and AprilBelle Sharon Smith.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, at 11 a.m., with a visitation beginning at 10am. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, www.OakGroveLudington.com.
