Billy Don Smith was born in Daingerfield, Texas in 1939, son of Frank Smith and Frankie Fridia. As a child, he learned about Christs’ salvation and was baptized. Billy Don ran track and played basketball for Daingerfield High School and later in college.  He started his higher educational journey attending Los Angeles Community College, later transferring to and graduating with his bachelors from Western New Mexico University. Billy Don broadened his horizons and spent time studying Spanish and teaching English in Veracruz, Mexico, at the University of Veracruz. His spirit of service and desire to help underserved children led Billy Don to serve in the United State Peace Corp. Sited in Venezuela, he ran community youth programs and helped in securing safe water resources. These experiences honed Billy Don’s focus on Social Work and earned him a scholarship to Michigan State University, where he received his Masters in Social Work. Billy Don met and fell in love with Nancy Laraine in graduate school, marrying the summer of their graduation. They moved to Grand Rapids and later Kentwood, where they (literally) built their forever home.

 Billy was a school social worker initially at Grand Rapids Public Schools and ultimately retiring from the Fennville Public Schools after 20 years of dedicated service. He helped many children cope with difficult life situations. Many summers were spent working with migrant families throughout Michigan, allowing Billy to combine his passion for speaking Spanish and serving the Latino population with his expertise as a Social Worker.

 Billy and Nancy loved to garden and watch the birds that came to their feeders. They enjoyed travelling and were avid MSU basketball fans. In retirement, Billy and Nancy divided their time between Kentwood, California and Texas. Their love and the grace of God helped them survive many of life’s storms.  

Billy Don also loved to tend his land, garden, fish, garden, watch TV news programs and garden. Did we mention he loved to garden? Chances are, if Billy Don knew your first name, you would somehow end up helping plant some of his various gardens, admiring his John Deere tractor or at least be gifted with some of its harvest. He also enjoyed spending time with his Grand Rapids Low Rider Van Club, Retired Peace Corp Volunteers, Calvary Baptist Couples Bible Study and Retired Fennville Public School Educators group. Billy served for years at their home church, Calvary Baptist, as a Shepherd's class leader, helping minister and teach Special Needs adults about God’s love for them. He was instrumental in helping to organize his Texas Gary Family Reunion, to the point of urging his daughters, from his hospital bed, to have family members send in their registration.

 Billy's children and grandchildren brought him great pride and joy. Gina (Ginard), Ami, Don, K’Mya, Maxwell, Chloe, Brayden, Lliam and Zinnia and the host of others who called him Dad or Granddad (Grandpa, Papa) were blessed with his patient, light- hearted spirit. He felt one of his life’s missions was to assure they all achieved their maximum desired education. 

Billy and Nancy were blessed with a special relationship with their 2 daughters, Gina and Ami. The family enjoyed traveling together; from their many road trips to Texas to international travel, visiting Costa Rica and Mexico, where Billy was able to show his family where he had spent time in Xalapa Veracruz, Mexico. Billy was a consistent source of encouragement (cheerleader) and support. He wouldn’t hesitate to drive 1-2 hours to help with car issues, attend a bells concert, Taekwondo tournament, or piano recital for his grandchildren. No distance was too great for him to show his love. In more recent years, he even flew across the country on various occasions to provide help with childcare and was the support person in the delivery room for the birth of Lliam and Zinnia. Psalms 127:3-5 NKJV “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.” 

March 15, 2026 Billy Don Smith went to meet his Lord. He passed away peacefully in Grand Rapids Michigan, surrounded by family and friends. He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Nancy Laraine Smith, his parents (Frank Smith, Frankie Peters, Henry Lee Peters), siblings Henry Spear Peters, Bobby Wayne Peters, Margaret Grant and Keith Smith. Billy Don is survived by his children, grandchildren and his siblings: Billy Charles Peters (brother), Maudie Peters (sister-in-law), and John Miller (brother-in-law) and many adoring nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.