It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our husband, father, brother, grandfather, and great-grandfather Ray Rex "Pete" Smith on January 13th, 2024 at his home with family by his side. Ray had a courageous battle against cancer and during that battle, was able to experience many memorable events with family and friends.

Ray was born November 29th, 1943 to Ray Smith, Sr. and Jessie Smith (Quick) in Antigo at Langlade Memorial Hospital. He was a 1961 graduate of Tridelphia High School in Wheeling, West Virginia. After High School he joined the United States Air Force, proudly serving our country from 1962 to 1965, as a defense message decoder stationed in Alaska and Crete.

Ray was married to Sally Vozka on August 13th, 1966 and settled down in the Antigo area. Together, they had two sons, Robert (Bob) and Michael (Mike). Ray and Sally separated in 1975. He later married Janet Thomae on November 16th, 1984 and adopted her daughter Alicia. They resided in Marshfield until 2011 when they moved to Gleason, Wisconsin to enjoy retirement.

Professionally, Ray was a Registered Respiratory Therapist. He started his career at Langlade Memorial Hospital but also worked at hospitals in Merrill, Wausau, and finally St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield. His proudest achievement was serving on the helicopter crew the Spirit of Marshfield. He was especially skilled in managing critically ill pediatric patients and NICU babies.

Ray was quick-witted. Always finding or creating humor in any situation. He was known for his Marlboro-man-like mustache, his Irish golf cap, red buffalo-plaid jackets, his love for the outdoors, and the one thing you wouldn't find him without was his cup of black coffee with a spoonful of sugar. He enjoyed hunting deer and ducks, fanatically fishing, especially ice fishing, and golfing, which was his passion during his retirement years. Ray was an inventor (The Buck Stick), gadget maker, and MacGyver-like if anything broke. He was famous for his creative use of duct-tape and had woodworking talents that helped him make lawn furniture and yard games for family and friends. Ray had a desire to capture any and all activities with a camera. The number of photos and albums we have are endless and now so precious! He loved to read and found comfort in quietly reading at the family cabin or down at Sucker Lake on his lawn chair.

As a grandfather and great-grandfather, he always attended birthday parties, special ceremonies, and sporting events supporting each grandchild and great-grandchild. He was known to spoil the kids with ice cream, one of his favorites, sneaking in a bowl whenever he could. For every family event he brought the largest, best- -looking fruit bowls and made sure nobody left hungry. To the grandchildren, Ray was a hunting partner, their canoe paddler, the one who taught them to tell fishing stories and how to bluff in poker, but he was also a calming force who gave each grandchild the gentlest hugs that will be forever cherished.

Ray is survived by his wife, Janet; his sons, Bob (Suzie) Smith of Marshfield and Mike (Tina) Smith of Antigo; and a daughter, Alicia (Dan) Osland of Dunedin, New Zealand. He is further survived by seven grandchildren, Zak (Michelle) Kickhaver, Hannah (Rob) Mast, Lauren Smith, Megan (Devan) Wrege, Macey Smith, and Julian and Miles Osland; as well as five great-grandchildren, Abel, Oliver, Lilly, Samuel and Ensley. He is also survived by four sisters, Joyce Hastings, Pam (Cap) Buettner, Robin Smith, and Liz (Mike) Brodnicki.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray Smith. Sr. and Jessie Smith as well as brother-in-law, Skip Hastings.

On behalf of the family, a special thank you goes to all of the staff at Volm Cancer Center for their care and kindness through Ray's battle with cancer, and LeRoyer Hospice for their support during the final days.

Memorial in Ray's name may be directed to Marshfield Children's Hospital.

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