Nathan J. Smith, age 40, of Midland, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

Nathan James Smith was born May 7, 1979, in Kansas City, Mo. His parents moved to Florida in 1980 where he grew up in Deland and attended Deland High School. Nathan was a gifted Student-Athlete who played basketball and volleyball. Shortly after high school, he moved to Columbus, Ohio, to work with his dad in the family business of Chris Cakes Catering. He remained in the business working for the company in both Ohio with his dad and later in Michigan with his mother.

At a young age, he was diagnosed with Bi-lateral Avascular Nucrosis. A disease that restricts blood flow and destroys bone growth. In Nathans case, he underwent experimental surgery at Duke University and later at the University of Michigan. Additional complications required a third operation. The resulting pain and attempts to control it left him in a battle with long term pain management and addiction. He fought as hard as he could for as long as he could. He lost the fight on May 21, 2019.

Nathan leaves behind his mother and step-father, Melanie and Trevor Muir of Clare, Mich.; father and step-mother, Steve and Margie Smith of Buckeye, Ariz.; sister and brother-in-law, Nicole and Kevin Bauer of Surprise Ariz.; nephews, Jacob and Joshua Bauer who were the lights in his eyes; paternal grandparents, Marcella Smith Schoberg and Clifford Smith (deceased) and H. Earl Schoberg (deceased) of Pocahontas, Iowa; maternal grandparents, John and Bea Prevallet (both deceased); step-grandfather, Toby Modde of Perryville Mo.; as well as numerous aunts and uncles on both sides of the family.

Nathan tried all forms of treatment available to him. He often told us—"It's going to be OK. Worse things have happened to other people." In spite of it all we knew his heart was made of gold. We must move on without him now, but he will always be remembered with love.