Obituary of Dennis James Smock

DENNIS SMOCK July 14, 1949 – December 18, 2016 Dennis James Smock, 67, of Monroe, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at the Promedica Toledo Hospital after suffering an aortic aneurysm rupture 44 days prior. He was born in Monroe on July 14, 1949, the son of Ralph and Phyllis (Calkins) Smock, both of Monroe. Dennis was Baptized, received his First Communion, was Confirmed, and attended grade school at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and School. In 1967, he graduated from Catholic Central High School. He received an Associate Degree with honors from the Monroe County Community College and went on to attend Lake Superior State College on scholarship. He enlisted in the Navy in November of 1967, proudly served his country and was honorably discharged November, 1971. While in the Navy he served aboard the Kitty Hawk from 1968 to 1969 off the shores of Vietnam, Korea, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Guam, and Wake. In 1970, he served on the Independence in which they received Meritorious Unit Commendation while on the Mediterranean Sea. During that year, he also served near Rome, Toronto, Barcelona, Malta, and Jordan. In Jordan, they received recognition for actions against PLO. He spent 1971 on the Forrestal on the Mediterranean Sea. During his last year of service, Dennis served on the Saratoga off the Florida coast where they received Cold Iron Status. Dennis and Bonnie (Gibbons) were united in Holy Matrimony on October 7, 1978 at St. Mary Catholic Church Monroe. He retired in 2011 from Consumers Energy where he was employed for 33 years. His position when he retired was Senior Generation Asset Management Production Scheduler. While employed for Consumers Energy he worked at the Whiting Plant in Erie, Michigan Electrical Power Coordination Center in Ann Arbor, and then for Electrical Sourcing and Trading in Jackson. Dennis was extremely loving and proud of his two children, Joshua Smock and Kelly (Smock) Dotson, both of Monroe. His greatest joy was spending time entertaining his two grandchildren Noah Smock and Catherine “Cate” Dotson. He loved playing euchre, trivia, and computer games. He was an avid University of Michigan football fan. Forever Go Blue! He is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie (Gibbons) Smock, his son, Joshua (Andrea) Smock, his daughter, Kelly (Christopher) Dotson, grandson Noah Smock, granddaughter Catherine Dotson, his mother, Phyllis (Calkins) Smock, his two brothers Gary Smock and Martin (Carol) Smock, his three sisters Sharon (Charles) Dykes, Susan (Mike) Shively, and Maryanne Duvall. He is preceded in death by infant grandson Gabriel Michael Dotson, his father Ralph Smock, one brother-in-law Charles Dykes, his father and mother-in-law Charles and Mabel June Gibbons, one sister-in-law Donna Nisley, and two nephews Matthew Preadmore and Thadeus Turner. A special thank you to the Toledo Promedica Surgical Intensive Care Unit for their loving care and support. Dennis will lie in state from 10:00am until A Mass of the Resurrection at 12:00pm on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at St. Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church 32477, Church Street, Rockwood 48173. Father Jim Rafferty will officiate. Procession will follow to St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Monroe where graveside services will be under the auspices of Monroe Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1138. A memorial luncheon will follow at Monroe Missionary Baptist Church in Monroe. Arrangements have been entrusted to Merkle Funeral Service, 2442 North Monroe Street (734) 384-5185. Memorial donations may be made in Dennis’ name to any pro-life cause of your choice. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.