Michael Durand Smith was born August 19, 1979, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Herbert Garden, Jr. and Agnes Marie Smith.  He was the youngest of three children.

He is preceded in death by both parents, grandmother, Ora Mae Smith; two uncles, Woodrow Smith and Archie Smith; two aunts, Velma Lee Smith and Ida Mae Smith; brother, Ray Smith; and two cousins, David L. Smith, III and Damon Burch.

Michael attended Faxon Elementary, D.A. Holmes Elementary, Dr. Martin Luther King Middle School and he graduated from Southeast High School.  After high school, he attended T.A.D. Technical Institute.

Michael was employed at the Kansas City Star Newspaper for over 20 years. He, later, became employed at Broad Ridge. He served as an Assembly Line Worker for the last eight years.

Michael loved comic books and graphic novels. He loved reading informative books and playing video games. He was a gentle giant. He was quiet and stayed to himself. He loved his family and friends. To know him was to love him.

He was a gentle giant who gave us beautiful and lasting memories. Some of his laughable memories includes him imitating Marie's Wall Mirror of Keanon, Ivory, Waynans, "I'm Gonna Get you Sucker" shooting scene.

He is survived one sister, Christine Marie Smith; his uncles, three nieces, Sha'Ninfa Tia Marie Dunn, Sage Dunn, and Ra'Asia Thompson; nephew, Rico Cortez Dunn-Smith; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Thoughtful care and services provided by E. S. Eley & Sons Funeral Chapel, Inc .