Michael Dean Smith was born Oct. 20, 1958, to Bovil Sr. and Pauline Smith in Whitwell, Tenn. He grew up in the beauty of the hills in his native state. He moved to the Bovill area at the age of 14 and found his mountain home.
He was loved by all who knew him and had a heart of gold. Mike was a rough-and-tumble country boy who played hard and worked harder. His fascination with nature lead him to a widespread knowledge of the local land and all its qualities.
Mike graduated from Deary High School in 1977. He married Vicki Annette Loe in September 1980. They had four children, Suesanne, Michelle, Patrick and Steffon. Mike taught his children his love and respect of the wilderness. In 2005, Mike met and married the love of his life, Wanda Marie Lysiak.