Small, Yancy 2/10/1971 - 2/8/2018 Grand Rapids Yancy Erik Small, age 46 of Grand Rapids, MI passed away peacefully on February 8, 2018 of stage four colon cancer. Yancy was born February 10, 1971 in Coldwater, MI. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 469. He graduated from Lakeview High School in Lakeview, MI. Attended Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI, and Craven Community College in New Bern, NC, and Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. Degrees in pre-architecture. Yancy served in the United States Marine Corps from 1991-1995, and received the National Defense Service Medal. He served as a tank mechanic in the Marines. Yancy enjoyed drawing, BMX riding, skateboarding, motorcycle trail riding, video games, and table top roleplaying games, particularly Warhammer 40k and Dungeons and Dragons with friends. He loved animals and nature and was dad to four cats. Yancy was a 3D artist whose career highlights include work on the Lemmon-Holton Cancer Pavilion. He worked at URS Corp and Studio AMD in Rhode Island. He became an independent contractor, working from home and still doing most of his work for Studio AMD along with other projects. Yancy was preceded in death by his stepfather, Gerald Wright Sr. in October 2016. Survivors include his wife Jennifer (Landino), her children Trystan, Autumn, and Morrigan; his daughter Erika (Luke) Grala, of Sparta, and his grandchildren Kylynn, Noah, Jackson, and Wesley; brother Troy (Jodie) Small, their daughters Hailey and Justine, of Trufant; stepbrother Gerald (Lee Ann) Wright Jr, of San Angelo, TX and his daughters Jessica and Samantha; stepbrother Lonny (Hilary) Wright of Branch and their daughter Mackenzie; his mother Sandra Wright of White Cloud, and his father Aaron of Florida. There will be no funeral service. Instead, a celebration of life will be held at Yancy's home this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Great Lakes Caring Hospice. Yancy's generosity was only outweighed by his level of poverty. He was loved by many, humans and animals alike. He will be fiercely missed, but may he go gently to a better place.