Nicole E. Smith

As her family and friends can surely attest, Nicole Smith truly understood the secret to a life well lived. She was a constant source of encouragement for others, even in the most difficult of times. Well known for her vibrant spirit, Nicole was always brimming full of energy and joy, bringing such light and life to the world around her. She was never afraid to try new things, and she genuinely lived each and every day to the fullest. Deeply loved, Nicole will be forever missed by those who knew her best.

During the exciting decade when the World Wide Web came to be, there was much joy in the lives of Carl and Angie Smith as they announced the birth of the baby girl they named Nicole in late April of 1997. From the moment she was born she brought such joy to her loved ones including Jamie, Ricky, and Sarah, too.

Growing up, Nicole was a typical young girl of her generation in many ways. She was joined in her family by her siblings, Matthew and Blayne, and the beloved family pets including Tilly, Buffy, Bella, Leesha, Cuddles and her most recent adoption of , Pepper. Nicole was especially close to her brother, Matthew, no matter how many miles life put between them. It has been said that the two were virtually inseparable. As a child, Nicole loved playing in the snow and sledding with her father on nights that it snowed - it was their special thing to go out together to take advantage of the fresh blanket of white while she would normally have been asleep. She also enjoyed decorating for Halloween with her family. Interestingly, their decorated hearse won first place in the annual Parade of Lights at the Pumpkin Festival for two consecutive years! The family would then continue to celebrate by trick-or-treating in the hearse and getting lots of extra candy. Nicole always looked back on her childhood fondly.

Gymnastics became an important part of Nicole’s life at a young age. She was a very energetic child who liked to climb and bounce all over the place. It started when Nicole taught herself to do a cartwheel. While observing a local gymnastics class, she was asked by the coach to try out a few moves. Nicole was an instant natural. By the age of five, she had fallen in love with gymnastics and was flipping around the house. Nicole also showed off her skills in the Junior Miss Washtenaw pageants, where she would work for hours to perfect her routine for the talent portion of the competition. She loved dressing up, decorating her hair, and taking pictures in photo shoots. Nicole was never afraid to perform on stage. She even won the Junior Miss Washtenaw Most Photogenic award. Nicole tirelessly worked her way up to level seven before discovering her passion for cheerleading. She began cheering for the Eagles as a pre-teen and then after she made the Freshman team in high school , she earned a spot on the varsity team that same season. Nicole was a fearless flier for her cheer teams. Throughout her training she learned to execute a flawless back tuck and perform the scorpion as a flier. Nicole even helped lead her team to the state competition. Her abilities and talent allowed her to truly shine.

After high school , Nicole moved with her Dad and Sarah to Fresno, California, and she pursued her higher education, with Nursing as her end goal. She worked very hard to maintain a 4.0 GPA while balancing a part-time job in retail client services. Nicole was known for her drive to help others in whatever way she could. Her commitment to serving those around her led her to hold several other jobs as a service professional. Nicole was also working towards a successful and fulfilling career within TSA.

Nothing brought Nicole greater joy than spending time with her loved ones. She joined her father in the Baker to Vegas Run, a 120-mile trek through the desert run by members of law enforcement from all around the country. Nicole shared a love for the show, Criminal Minds, with her brother, Blayne. A favorite memory was a family vacation to Disney World, and it was the best surprise. The plan was disguised as a trip to Washington, D.C., and Nicole was delighted to discover that they were headed to Florida instead. She treasured her family members and friends above all else and was never known to take anyone for granted.

Rarely one to sit still for long, Nicole pursued many hobbies to stay busy in her free time. She enjoyed immersing herself in nature, camping, and going to the family cabin. Nicole loved riding her ATV, doing donuts and riding the rim of the berm, and she continued to ride her ATV in the other states she visited while also enjoying the countryside. She liked hiking through the woods with friends and family members. An adventurous spirit, Nicole was always ready to explore a new place. Her most favorite bucket list item was to skydive and she was given that opportunity for her eighteenth birthday and she treasured the experience. Nicole enjoyed watching various television shows, and she loved to use her creative talents in her drawings and paintings. She liked to eat breakfast food from McDonald’s as it has been said that it was “her thing.” Nicole enjoyed taking many many well-orchestrated pictures of herself, friends and pets to share on the various platforms of social media so that all could enjoy the moments through her eyes.

When reflecting on the life of Nicole Smith, it is easy to see both her unwavering courage and her unconditional love for her family. She was never afraid to back down from a challenge, and her serving spirit allowed her to touch the lives of countless others. Nicole possessed a sharp sense of humor, and she loved to smile, laugh, and have fun, no matter the circumstances. She was always willing to help others in whatever ways she could, touching so many in the process. Though she will be dearly missed, Nicole leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that her loved ones will forever hold near and dear to their hearts.

Nicole E. Smith of Livonia, Michigan passed away early Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at the tender age of 25. She was born late April 1997 in Fort Carson, Colorado. Nicole is the beloved daughter of Angie (Ricky) Martin, Carl (Sarah) Smith and Jamie Buckner. Loving sister of Matthew Anderson and Blayne Martin. She is the cherished granddaughter to Grandma & Grandpa Buckner, Grandma & PaPaw Butts and MaMaw & the late PaPaw Michael, Grandpa Martin, Nonna Debbie and Papa Bob Ping. Dearest niece of Christopher (Laura) Bates, Sarah (Dan) Begley, Ronda Buckner, Michael (Kelly) Butts, Amy (Turtle) Kirby, Chris (Kelley) Lawrence, Dana (Mandy) Michael. Nicole will also be missed by her young kitten, Pepper, many cousins, friends and loved ones.

A visitation will take place Tuesday, August 30, 2022 from 10 am until time of funeral service at 1 pm at Neely-Turowski Funeral Home, 30200 Five Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan 48154. Entombment will take place at Parkview Memorial Cemetery, Livonia, Michigan. Nicole is remembered for her endless caring, loving, tenacious nature and will always be the most beautiful butterfly to us all.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Michigan Humane Society