We all know what a special person Skip was.  He was a caring Husband, Father, Brother, Grandfather, Uncle and Friend to many.  Of course like any human, he had his few faults but one area he never faulted was following the true adjective of the Christian Faith- showing concern for others.  He was always welcoming to everyone and always reached out.  A phone call just to check in and see what was going on.  Concern and offering help for any problems you were dealing with. Telling a joke, and there were many good and bad ones.  Being present at every family or friend function.  Even the profession he choose was to protect and serve others, a dedication of service for 34 years. He had a great gift of being able to connect with people, ALL people.  At his retirement complex in Florida, a lady told me that he always made a point to stop by and talk to her husband who was disabled.  There were many stories of Big Skip with his Big Heart reaching out and showing concern for others when we were at his pool in Florida or as Cookie calls its, The Pool of Knowledge.  He was a man of inclusion, everyone was welcome and he made you feel comfortable.  I am sure that all of you can reflect on a similar welcoming deed that he gave to you.  Even his last Facebook posting that day had the same message that he lived by- You are always welcome here, you are family.
I can't help but also reflect on this Christian welcoming when it was time for him to leave us on this earth.  Cookie, Christine, Jason and Jennifer were all by his side when it was time to give him peace and made him feel comfortable and welcomed to take the next journey.  All of Skip's family was thinking of him during this time and his Grandkids were all gathered together back in Michigan.  We would later that night be shown a picture of a smathering of clouds with the sun showing through it creating somewhat of a rainbow effect in the sky over the house where everyone was gathered.  Some people see a face in the cloud.  It was a clear welcoming sign to us all.  The day after we all said goodbye for now, we decided to head to his pool for a swim.  That is what he would have wanted.  He loved the pool and he was very comfortable in it.  Sure it was difficult getting into that pool but once I swam for a little bit and then got out and looked back at it, it was so peaceful.  I even took a picture.  The beautiful pool, with its large stairway and railings leading you into it.  Warm, soothing, familiar and weightless.  And most importantly, welcoming.  It was the most beautiful way for Skip to leave all that he loved, protected and cared for on this earth and I am confident that it was God's way to welcome him.  Rest in peace Skip, it was an honor to call you Father in law.  Ken

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief.  May your memories bring you comfort.

Words cannot express the sorrow I feel for the loss of Skip  What a GREAT guy.  My kids (Melissa and Jared) always loved spending the days at the Smith house.  I always felt that they were loved and well taken care of. I know that his sisters are glad to have him with them and they will be looking down at us and keeping an eye on things. Love to all.

Next to my Dan, your one of the guys I will miss the most. Heaven will be more fun than ever with you two up there. Please watch over the rest of us. Love Patsy

Earl you will truly be missed, we had some great times and I will miss you

Skipper, dammit, the hole you've left here isn't as big as you -- it's bigger -- and that's why your sudden absence stings and will reverberate on and on and on. I'll always see you, of course, in the faces of my cousins, in your grandchildren, in classic cars, in pools, in impolitic social commentary, in police blue, in pinball machines, and in more memories than I can give words to. Rest in peace.

Earl,Skip,but I always called u Fat Dog and u once told me " My friends can only call me that and you allowed me to continue calling u" Fat Dog , thanks. Had some great times at the Novaks pool parties with the Wooley boys. All our family's were one. Working at #5 with you on 5-2 a few times had a lot of laughs. I will remember always. Thanks

A Giant of a man to be missed by all.
My heart goes out to your beautiful family.The only person in the world that actually appreciated a good "snort" laugh!XO Kathy Niedzwiecki

Call him Earl,Skip but as a friend from #5 and a few time partner ( 5-2 ) I have always called you FatDog. All the good times with Novak,the Wooley boys and the families. You will stay in my memories always. Luv Bender

So sorry you have gone Skip.  We will miss you greatly.  Old Bridge will not be the same.
Rick & Margaret Potts

Aunt Cookie, Christine, Jason, and Jennifer, 
I am so very sorry for your loss.

Uncle Skip was unforgettable in a very good way.  He lived life and shared his enthusiasm for it with those around him.  

I always loved to go to Uncle Skip and Aunt Cookie's to hang out as a kid.  For starters, and this means even more coming from memories as a kid, I liked how happy Aunt Cookie and Uncle Skip seemed to be together.  Then there was the spending hours in the pool, feeling I was hot stuff riding around in his sweet red convertible, laughing at his countless stories and jokes (even if some of them made me cringe just a little), and feeling like you were really something when he would throw that smile, those eyes, and maybe even a wink directly at you.  Even my kids who met him just a couple of times took notice to make the comment that "he is a very funny guy".  

Uncle Skip, you will definitely be missed, but highly doubt you will be forgotten by any who have met you.

What can I say? My heart and my family's hearts are heavy.  Skip was such a funny, caring , crazy friend. We are so fortunate that Skip and Terry were scout car partners....because our families became intertwined.  So many funny stories will keep him alive forever in  our hearts.  Prayers, hugs, and kisses from my family to Chrissy, Jennifer, Jason and especially Cookie and all their family. Skipper was one of a kind....and probably over-seeing the streets in heaven with Terry!Love you all.

We love you and will miss you Uncle Skip.

Karlee and Jake

SMR and TAL will miss your smile and emails.  You accepted us like family.  You always accepted TAL as a USN vet like a brother.  Thank you for making our community a better place.  We will miss you at the classic car shows this summer and always.  Susan and Tom -- "Das Boat" 1979 Lincoln Mark V. - Saint Clair Shores, MI.  God Bless --- Peace.

I am still in shock and so very sorry for your loss.  Skip and Sandy bring so much joy to my parents, he will be missed greatly. I will always remember his kindness, his laughter, and his love of cars! He had the greatest love for his family and friends and he (and Sandy) hold a special place in our hearts.  

One of my favorite memories is when we moved to TC and my dad picked up a hitchhiker. My mom and Sandy were hysterical, first because we had to stop and walk the duck around...then to find out we had an extra passenger!  Many good times! 

May your memories bring you joy and comfort always.  We love you!

I know our lives will be very diffrent without skipper in it.he will be missed by a lot of people

You certainly will be missed by the many lives you have touched.

We met Skip over thirty years ago at a car show in St Ignace , Mi when he had to show us how fast his GTO was.   That friendship has lasted over thirty years and all the good times together will never be forgotten. 

Skip loved to play a tough guy but, truly had a heart of gold.
We will miss him very much!

Forever Friends
Dave and Lorayne

Man oh man what can I say without crying. Cookie and skip raised my son. I knew in heart he was loved. Even after my son was a grown man skipper would always ask how was "MIKEY" Cookie and family my happy memories will always be in my heart. If I can help  in any way please call

Aunt Cookie & kids, I feel sad in that sometimes life hands us a loss that we will never be ready for.....and then the world asks us to pick up the pieces and move forward without them.... even when we don't want to!  But, I feel most happy that "The Skipper" lived a bigger-than-life existence in the years God gave him. The pool parties at your house were LEGENDARY!  May you all find comfort in the wonderful memories of your St. Brendan's extended family.

I have known Skip for 60 some years. Grew up together on the E. side of Detroit and worked together at the Fifth Precinct for a number of years. No friends are like the friends you had as a kid.  Rest In Peace Skip

You are unforgettable friends whom we have known for over 40 years. To know you both, is to love you both. We miss Skip so much already.  Our families have so many wonderful memories together that we will always treasure.  
To name a few, how about those Coke bottle returns at midnight?  How about the hitchhiker on our move to TC?  How about seeing "cousins" at Dex-Walters?  How about writing with shoe polish on Chuck's car "Trash Man - do not take" on trash pickup day? How about Skip reading out loud to us from the automobile magazines?  We know it made you crazy...but Chuck and Skip would talk for hours about cars! So many memories to share, we will never ever forget.  

Love you dearly,

To Skip's Family our condolence, will miss you Skip at the Nat's & K-zoo & all the fun time's, Rest in peace,

I Met Earl when he was promoted to Sergeant & He was assigned to 2nd. Pct. IOU. Good Times And Fun Memories. R.I.P. SGT.

                                                          Retired P.O. Joan Burrell

Sandy and family, we have only known you for a very short time but it was long enough to fall in love with both you and Skipper.  Big man with a BIG HEART!!! Not many are blessed to know such a man.  Thanks for sharing Skip with us.
  
Your misplaced Kentucky neighbors
Buck and Bev

They broke the mold after Skip was made.  We have so many great memories of fun times with the various old car clubs and meets.  Whether in Perrysburg, Ohio of the James Dean Rebel Run in Indiana - Skip always made you laugh.  The San Diego Chicken story from the Super Bowl in Pontiac was priceless.  Many nights working on cars in Jim Carroll's barn with Gerry Benoit and Ron Longo.  Thanks for all the good times Skip.  We will see you "on the other side".

Fourteen years ago when my son married Skipper's beautiful, wonderful daughter we not only gained a daughter-in-law, we gained a family.  Our lives became intertwined, we shared Christmases, Thanksgivings, birthdays, and parties, and boy were there parties.  His presence was larger than life, and he  will forever be in our hearts and our lives.  Love you Skipper, The Cherns.

Driving home from Florida this evening we stopped at a hotel and the Dukes Of Hazard was on tv.  Jason and I both had the same memory as soon as we saw it.  When we were younger we would always watch that tv show. And you would come home from bowling with Burger King or Genevas. We would all sit on the floor watch TV and eat.  Every Friday!
So many simple but great memories❤❤❤

I will never forget when Uncle Skip set me straight on how to care for my first car, an orange Dodge Omni. It was a good thing too or I would have burned up the engine. Darn good thing he showed me how to check the oil! He was much loved and will be missed by all.

This was my Dad's cousin, but he will always be "Uncle Skip" to me. 

His voice was booming and distinctive. He was as big as life and always left you with a smile on your face.

He cared about his family tremendously and would talk about them every chance he'd get. He and my Aunt Cookie seemed to be attached at the hip. They are the only couple from my childhood who have happily been together for as long as I can remember.

He owned the sweetest, red, Pontiac GTO convertible I have ever seen. I remember as a young child, seeing it for the first time during a family reunion at Miller's Lake in Lapeer and thinking, "This guy is the coolest!" Today, that car is still as pretty as I remembered it back then. 

The parallels in our career paths are not a coincidence. As a kid, I always wanted to be just like him. He was a Detroit Police Officer and I wanted to be one too! I almost joined the Navy, because I knew that was the path he followed. Luckily, I changed my mind! :)

My fondest memory of him happened during one of my darkest moments. When my Dad was dying and nobody could come to grips with what was going on, he gave me the strength and courage to make the hardest decision I have ever made. I will never forget the words he said to me.

Thank you Uncle Skip. May you Rest In Peace and your family find the strength needed to endure these coming days. You will be missed more than you could ever know.

Our hearts are broken.  Skip was a gentle giant and all who knew him, loved him.   Sandy, you and your kids are in our thoughts and prayers

This was my Dad's cousin, but he will always be "Uncle Skip" to me. 

His voice was booming and distinctive. He was big as life and always left you with a smile on your face.

He cared about his family tremendously and would talk about them every chance he'd get. He and my Aunt Cookie seemed to be attached at the hip. They are the only couple from my childhood who have happily been together for as long as I can remember.

He owned the sweetest, red, Pontiac GTO convertible I have ever seen. I remember as a young child, seeing it for the first time during a family reunion at Miller's Lake in Lapeer and thinking, "This guy is the coolest!" Today, that car is still as pretty as I remembered it back then. 

The parallels in our career paths are not a coincidence. As a kid, I always wanted to be just like him. He was a Detroit Police Officer and I wanted to be one too! I almost joined the Navy, because I knew that was the path he followed. Luckily, I changed my mind! :)

My fondest memory of him happened during one of my darkest moments. When my Dad was dying and nobody could come to grips with what was going on, he gave me the strength and courage to make the hardest decision I have ever made. I will never forget the words he said to me.

Thank you Uncle Skip. May you Rest In Peace and your family find the strength needed to endure these coming days. You will be missed more than you could ever know.

OBITUARIO

Earl Hulbert Smith

23 enero, 1947 – 15 abril, 2015

Kaul Funeral Home

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