Birth date: Mar 11, 1938 Death date: Jun 20, 2020
It is with great sadness that we announce that long time Gainesville resident, Archie Smith McCormick, passed away on June 20, 2020. Archie was born March 11, 1938 in Wilson, NC to Henry “Mac” McCormick and Mary Lentz McCormick. H Read Obituary
This has been such a week of sadness and shock for all of us who knew and loved Archie; an unimaginably difficult time for the family. We met Archie some thirty years ago, and amazingly, during that entire time he never seemed to age, and was just as full of life, fun, energy and excitement as he was the first day we met. Through several health scares and other challenges, he never lost his excitement and passion for a new design project, but even more satisfying for him was the prospect of making new lifelong friends. He had such a far reaching impact on so many people, it often seemed he knew everyone, and everyone knew him. Our neighbor, when learning the tragic news, immediately responded with sadness, and reminisced that Archie had designed HER house, way back in 1982. That has been an oft-repeated comment throughout the years, we've lost count of the number of times we met someone whose life he had touched, he simply touched SO many lives in a positive way. Whenever he said 'trust me on this' we learned to do just that, because we learned his eye for colors, color matches, and his ability to turn ordinary spaces into glamorous spaces, were way ahead of his time; somehow he brought the future into the present with his timeless design. He always said he felt incredibly blessed that a small town boy, born in North Carolina during the Great Depression, could bring so much joy to so many people.
His devotion to family, his thrill of design, developing new projects, and making new friends were his passions. And parties! He loved a good party, and the party never truly started until Archie arrived!!
It is such an honor and a privilege to call this amazing man our friend for the last thirty years. We will always miss you, but we know the party is not over, it has just moved to a better place now. We miss you Arch!
Steven & Helen Bagen
Archie was one of a kind. We were backdoor neighbors (one house over) when we first bought a house on the NE side and we quickly became friends. A year or so later, we moved to Miami for a UF project. When we returned about 3 years later and bought the Freeman house in Black Acres, we didn’t have enough furniture to furnish both the family room and the “formal” living room, so the latter became the playroom for the kids. That was a little embarrassing because it was the first room one saw entering the house, but we were on grad student and teacher budgets.
One day Archie came over for something and Pat took him across the street and introduced him to the owner of the house, who was moving, and announced to everyone’s surprise—including Archie—that the McCormicks were going to buy this house. A few months or so later they did and Arch, Barbara, Ronnie, and Angel moved in (Eddie was away). We were now frontdoor neighbors, one house over.
When Pat’s parents were here for a visit one spring, they bought us a living room set (couch and chair) from Archie when he was at Cox Furniture. He delivered the furniture himself and asked what else we had to put in the living room. We said nothing, so Archie went to work, dashing throughout the house gathering up stuff, bedside tables, pictures, lamps, etc. He fully furnished our whole new living room within half an hour.
Later when Barbara and Archie's partner hosted Archie's 50th birthday celebration in their home—one of many parties they hosted--the partner had arranged a surprise, which was a male stripper who came and sat on Archie's lap. I happened to be standing next to Coach Galen Hall (Archie had designed his and many other coaches’ homes), and Galen said, "OMG, I can't be here," and promptly dashed out.
Tammy and a few other cheerleaders were there, too, and were very popular 😉.
During another party there, the sewer line got stopped up and the basement restroom started overflowing. Ken Courage brought over his shop vac and he and I vacuumed up the water, then I escorted numerous groups back and forth across the street to use our facilities.
We had so many good times, including tailgates at Archie’s friend and client’s BBQ tent.
Archie’s last words at every gathering was “Come over and see us sometime.” I wish we had more often, but as the old song goes, “We’ll meet again….” RIP our friend.
Pat and Charlie Wallace
I will be planting several vibrant red oak trees that I grew from acorns in his honor. Much love to everyone in the family.
Archie was a mentor and friend who I met through Stop Children's Cancer. He was a perfectionist there was a place for everything and everything in its place. I'm thankful to have known Archie through the years. He touched many lives with his since of humor and his encouragement to help to see everyone succeed through their talents and gifts. To Barbara, Eddie, Ronnie, and Angel my heart and prayers go out to you. Archie will be missed by so many. Thank you Archie for the times we spent together and the skills you taught me.
Archie was my ex father in law and grandfather (papa) to my girls Taylor and Ronda. He was a wonderful person and designer. My girls were very close to him and especially Taylor. He will be so missed by me and by his granddaughters. He had unconditional love for all of his friends and family, and such a big heart when it came to helping his neighbors or friends no matter how big or small the the project was. And as we all know he would put the Archie touch of class on it in the end. Archie thanks for all that you have done for me in my life time you will truly be missed Thanks for always being there for me!!!
Tammy McCormick
