Robert Patrick Smith Jr.

Known as “Rick” to family and “Pete” to his many loyal friends, he epitomized the virtues of hard work, overcoming challenges and helping others in need. Rick/Pete was a “jack of all trades” but spent the majority of his life as a professional tree trimmer and, in more recent years, provided fire wood to local restaurants.

The course of Rick/Pete’s life was marked early on by his unwavering independence, rare intelligence and staggering wit. It became clear when he walked into the kitchen at the age of 5 with a rat snake hanging by its mouth from the skin between his thumb and index finger that Rick/Pete was no ordinary child. The words “Mom, can I have a jar?” shocked his mother and marked the beginning of a love for snakes (along with other all other critters) that would continue throughout his life.

As a lifelong Hillsborough County resident, Rick/Pete graduated from Plant City High School in 1977. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Patrick Smith, Sr., “Pat”, in 2011 and is survived (and deeply missed) by his mother, Virginia Ruth Smith (87), sister, Martha White (64), brother, John Casey Smith (61), and nieces: Krystal Leigh Blanton (43), Shary Lynne White (40) and Kayla Renee Berry (35).

The family expresses their sincere appreciation for Pete’s many close friends and associates who share the profound burden of his sudden passing. The weight of our immense loss, for which there are no words, is lightened by knowing that he was loved by so many.