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Orel Leroy Smith
Born: 4/5/1935
Died: 9/2/2026
Age: 91
Community: Flushing, MI
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SMITH, Orel Leroy (Smitty) of Flushing, age 91 died at Home surrounded by family on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at Caterer Funeral Home (formerly Rossell), 309 E. Main Street, Flushing, MI. with burial at Sunset Hills Cemetery to follow. The family will gather for visitation on Tuesday September 8th from 2-8pm and again on Wednesday at 11 am until time of service.
Leroy was born April 5, 1935, in Owosso Michigan, the son of Orel and Neva Smith. After growing up in Owosso, he spent most of his life in Flushing MI where he owned and operated Starline Kitchen & Bath for over 40 years. With a High School education and sheer grit, he became a self-taught businessman and founded Starline in 1966. He was a talented kitchen designer and worked with many local builders and individual customers to create their custom kitchens and baths. He was a member of the Home Builders Association of Michigan, and his work was often displayed in the Genessee County Parade of Homes. To many in the community he simply became known as “Smitty” and continued working even after he sold Starline in 2007, most recently working under Carter Kitchen and Bath. He “retired” several times but never really stopped working, IYKYK. He completed his final kitchen design for one of his Grandsons in his final weeks.
Leroy married the love of his life, Constance Soper on August 20, 1983. They enjoyed their life together in the house he designed and built in Flushing. Together they loved to travel and spend time Up North Michigan. He built a cabin in Gladwin MI where they spent many days taking boat rides on Secord Lake and the Tittabawassee River. His greatest joy was sharing days with family on the boat, pulling Grandkids on tubes and fishing off the dock. After the cabin was sold, the boat days continued on yearly vacations. He always looked forward to the annual week with extended family in Atrium County, taking river trips and sitting by the lake sharing stories. His last wish was to be able to stay in his home until the time of his death, and his wife Connie made that possible by lovingly caring for him with help from the amazing McLaren Hospice Team.
Family and friends will remember Leroy most for his work ethic, quite literally never letting any grass grow under his feet. He always had to have a project started, of course something that required new tools. He could always be found outside either working in his garden, in the pole barn, or on a tractor mowing or moving dirt. He loved moving dirt! He had an insatiable appetite for knowledge, religiously reading the newspaper every day and watching You-Tube videos. He loved sharing his knowledge with others, teaching and mentoring anyone that was willing to learn. Some of his other favorite pastimes included golfing, talking about golf, eating out, and shopping at Menards & Home Depot for more tools.
He will be dearly missed by his wife and sweetheart Connie, stepchildren; Duane Soper (Lisa), Steve Soper (Monique) & Vikki Inman (Harold), Grandchildren Alicia, Dani, Rachel, Carter, Garrett, Sydney, and Hunter; 3 great- grandchildren (soon to be 4) and several nieces and nephews. He will also be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his many friends, but especially David, Larry, Francis and Nick. He was preceded in death by his two sons, Jeffery Smith in 1986 and Gregory Smith in 1997; his parents; and siblings Janette, Warren, and Beatrice.
The Smith family wishes to extend a special thank you to Dr. Halim, Dr. Hassan, the staff at McLaren Hospital and most of all the McLaren Hospice Staff – especially Sara for keeping him comfortable and able to remain at home. The family requests any memorial contributions be made to the American Lung Association or the Flushing Senior Center. |
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| Visitation |
| Date: |
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9/8/2026 |
| Time: |
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2:00 PM |
| The family will gather for visitation on Tuesday September 8th from 2-8pm and again on Wednesday at 11 am until time of service. |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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9/9/2026 |
| Time: |
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12:00 PM |
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| Location: |
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Caterer Family Funeral Home
307 E. Main Street
Flushing, MI 48433Get a Map to this location...
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| Official: |
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Rev. Harold Inman |
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