Mr. Smith, 25, died Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Medial Center in Edgewood of Marfan syndrome.

Mr. Smith played on the Hester's Hornets softball team. His team won the gold medal in the Special Olympics Softball Games four years in a row, the most recent win being in September.

"Donnie's middle school teacher got him involved in the Special Olympics. From that point on, Donnie participated in many Special Olympic events. It was great. He also took karate lessons for 10 years," his mother said. "He won the gold medal in the weapons category and was a second-degree black belt. He just loved everything to do with sports. His next goal was to be a coach."

"Donnie was the kind of guy you couldn't keep in one place. He was always on the move," Donnie's older brother, Bill Smith said. "Our father was in the Navy and traveled, so I didn't see my brother very often when he was little, but I moved back to the area about five years ago. Since then, Donnie and I got very close. We could always talk to each other when we couldn't talk to anyone else," his brother said.

"I ran track with him and took karate classes with him. We were competitive toward each other, but we had fun," said his brother, Josh Smith. "I'll always remember my brother as being a very loving and caring person with a big heart."

"He loved being with family. When we were at our family reunion in West Virginia and the fireworks started, his face lit up like the sky. We had the best time together," his mother said.

Along with his mother and brothers, survivors include two sons, Evan Ludwig and Tommy Smith; and two sisters, Deborah Handy and Lynette Seifert.

Visitation will be 9-11 a.m. with service following at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Stith Funeral Home in Florence.

Burial will be in Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville.

Memorials: The Donnie Smith Memorial Fund, Cinfed Employee Federal Credit Union.

E-mail mlistermann@enquirer.com