Mike Smith (Floydada)
Michael Earl Smith passed from this life on Saturday, January 1, 2022, at University Medical Center in Lubbock following a long battle with complications from a stroke, at the age of 71. A memorial service will be held at the City Park Church of Christ at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, January 5, 2022, in Floydada. Interment will follow at Carr’s Chapel, Harmony Community under the direction of Moore Rose Funeral Home in Floydada.
Mike was born on February 27, 1950, to Mr. L.D. Smith Jr. and Wanda Faye Smith in Littlefield, Texas. The family soon moved to their new home in Floyd County, a half-section farm south of the Barwise Community that his grandfather acquired during the war years. L.D. built a home on the farm, and farming and ranching were a way of life for Mike. Things were different then, his mother Wanda often lamented that there were no paved roads east of Plainview when the family first moved to the farm, however, Barwise was a thriving community with a store, a hotel, and enough people that the children could field two teams to the baseball diamond there. Things do change, and the family moved to town, Floydada, in 1964. Mike played football at Floydada High School and was a part of the notorious “Dirty Dozen” of the class of 1968.
Mike enjoyed ranching and the cowboy life. He rode bucking horses in college and was an accomplished team roper and steer tripper. He often told stories of day-working for the Campbells and Burlesons in Motley County, the Kokernot Ranch in Alpine while in college at Sul Ross University and big outfits in Nevada. The highlight of Mike’s life was the opportunity that D.M. Cogdell afforded him to lease several of his ranches, the Irons, the Bournie, and the Bridle Bit. Those years brought many new and lasting friendships, a world of learning and experiences for the boys, a lasting tradition for the family, and a heritage of hard work and “grit” that will pass on to his grandchildren.
As one might expect, horses were Mike’s greatest passion, particularly racehorses. It all started with the first one he owned, Strato Cloud. Strato Cloud had the fastest qualifying time for the All-American Futurity in 1981. That horse was one of a kind, but as luck would have it, he chipped a knee during the big race and ran back in the field. That did not deter Mike, he had an oil painting commissioned of Strato Cloud and spent the rest of his life looking for another one just like him. Mike trained racehorses for a time, competing all over the state of New Mexico and owned racehorses as long as his health allowed.
Mike also loved to fish, a love he inherited from his dad L.D. and passed on to his boys and grandkids. He carried a pole and tackle box with him everywhere, and he would not hesitate to stop at any spot he thought looked promising, no matter the circumstance. He also enjoyed time with his friends, whether it be at the track, golfing, fishing, or just hanging out at the sale barn.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, L.D. and Wanda Smith. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sherry Lynn Roberts Smith; two sons, Tanner Smith and wife Monica of Floydada, Skeeter Smith and wife Tamarah of Idalou; his sister Tynette DeSino and husband Larry of Litchfield Park, Arizona; his brother Shawn Smith and wife Brenda of Lubbock; and five grandchildren, Cutter, Clare, Tilson, Jaxson, and Bay Smith.
