Richard “Rick” J. Smith, 58, Ocean Isle Beach, NC died May 30, 2023.

Born in Plainfield, NJ he was the son of Joanne Largey DePiero, New Bern, NC and Richard S. Smith, Denton, NC.  He was predeceased by his father-in-law Thomas Behan, Sunset Beach, NC, brother-in-laws Thomas C. Behan, Ocean Isle Beach, NC and Bryan Behan, Tom's River, NJ.

Rick was an entrepreneur and the owner of Unique-Skill Precision, Shreveport Rentals, and OIB Supertrack.  He formerly was employed by Lucent Technologies, AT&T and Burroughs corporations.  He studied at Somerset County Vo-Tech in high school and furthered his education at Somerset County Technical Institute. He was a Mechanical Engineer by trade, who loved working with his hands. His work ethic was unmeasured, and he was always busy tinkering with projects big or small.  

An avid sailor and fisherman, he was often cruising the intracoastal waterway with his family and friends. He will be remembered most for his selflessness and love and loyalty to his friends and family.  

In addition to his parents, and his stepfather Jules DePiero; he is survived by his wife Karen Behan Smith; two sons Richard Thomas Smith and Dayton Joseph Smith; brother Brian Smith (Leah), Ocean Isle Beach; sister Kim Merritt (Harold), Wilmington, NC; mother and father in law, Patricia and Tom Cascio, Old Bridge NJ; sister and brother in law Erin and Chris Hahn, New Hope, PA; nephews Christopher, Nicholas, Brian, Lincoln, and Zane; and nieces Marley and Ally; and many  loved and cherished aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was a parishioner of St. Brendan, The Navigator Catholic Church.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00am Friday, June 2, 2023, in St. Brendan, The Navigator Catholic Church, Shallotte, NC.  A burial will follow in Brunswick Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 5-7pm Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Brunswick Funeral Service, Shallotte, NC.

Memorials may be directed to St. Judes Children's Research Hospital 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN  38105.