Michael Ray Smith

Michael Ray Smith was born March 7, 1940 in Wichita, Kansas to Ray Elmer and Virginia Lee Smith. He died August 14, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona.

Mike grew up in Kansas and moved to Bisbee, Arizona with his mother, where he graduated Bisbee High School in 1958.

He served Honorably in the Army National Guard from 1957-1965.

Mike traveled the world working for Control Data Corporation (a mainframe and supercomputer company) , starting as an analyst and progressing through the ranks to Professional Services Country Manager in Iran, Venezuela and South Africa. Mike lived and worked in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Iran, Venezuela and South Africa. Always eager for adventure and new challenges he explored and embraced life in these countries and all points in between. Sipping tea with monks in the caves of the Himalayas, wading thru rivers in South America and traversing the plains of Africa. These travels provided ample opportunity to pursue his passion for photography, diving, sailing, good food and better friends. Finally making the trek back to Tucson to open a business and retire.

Whenever challenges or opportunity arose his philosophy was “things like these are what make life rich and interesting”. Here is to a life that was lived and was “rich and interesting" for all of us that were touched by it.

Survived by; daughter, Michelle, her husband Jeff, and grandson Ryan. Son, Greg, his wife Liz, grandson, Sean and granddaughter, Taylor. Great-grandkids, Shannon and Shane. Also friend and keeper of the Faith, Bob Rusk.