Corporal Ross A. Smith

Corporal Ross A. Smith, aged 21, of Wyoming, was killed in action on Thursday, February 9, 2006 while serving his country in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was born on March 4, 1984 and graduated from Wyoming Park High School in 2002. He loved sports and hangin' out with his friends, girlfriend and brothers. He joined the Marines after High School because he wanted to serve his country. This was his Third Tour of Duty in Iraq. He always enjoyed his time on leave so he could spend time with his family and friends and he looked forward to civilian life and going into business. Ross saw many in his Marine Corps Unit injured and killed in Iraq and he had a tattoo made in their honor. Ross was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bill and Ike Hoogeveen, Helen Anderson, Joan Smith, and his uncle, Bill Hoogeveen. He will be greatly missed by his parents, Mark and Susan Smith; brothers, Matt (Brie), and Luke; nephews, Dylan, Kaleb; girlfriend, Samantha Legg; grandfather, Edwin Smith of CA; uncles, Mike Hoogeveen, Brian Hoogeveen, Glenn Smith, Tracy Smith; "special aunt", Mary Chew; aunts, Cathy Smith and Jane (Mike) Fleck; cousins, Cody, Jason and Stanson Smith, Angela, Rachelle and Nicole Hoogeveen and many Marine brothers and civilian friends. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Grand Rapids First Church, 2100 44th Street SW, Wyoming, with Rev. Sam Rijfkogel, officiating. Interment Rest Lawn Memorial Park. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Cpl. Ross A. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund at Wyoming Park High School. Relatives and friends may meet Ross' family at Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville), 4145 Chicago Dr., Grandville on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9:00 p.m. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com