Larry loved his family dearly and loved being with them at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and mostly family reunions. He also loved music and was a sound engineer for the band The Music People Love (TPML). They traveled to Monicoa and several other places, and he truly loved working alongside his best friend, Dr. Larry T. Byrd Gordon. Larry also loved to go on cruises and did often. It was one of his favorite things.
He also loved to fish, enjoyed nature, and going to the AR Razorback Games with his little brother, Robert Smith. Larry truly believed and lived with a Positive Mental Attitude(PMA), and encouraged all that he met to do the same.
Larry attended Magnolia High School and Southern State College in Magnolia.
Larry worked for Piggly Wiggly starting at age 16 and stayed with the company for 25 years managing all of the Piggly Wiggly's in Hot Springs, AR as well as Minneloa, TX. Larry also owned Stuart's Landing in Hot Springs, AR. His most recent job was working at Allen Lumber Yard in Clarksville, TX for the past 25 years as their bookkeeper/accountant.
Larry was a man of Catholic faith and attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Clarksville, Tx and also St.John's Catholic Church in Hot Springs, AR.
He loved going to midnight mass at Christmas time. He also volunteered at the Old Church Theatre Production and sang as a backup singer.
Larry enjoyed eating, laughing, and telling his family stories, and boy he had a lot to tell us. He loved being with all of his family. He also enjoyed spending time with Sassy, Duke, Captain, and K9 Sandy when he visited us in Hot Springs.
Larry loved having fish frys and shrimp boils and most anything sweet.
He loved the spring time and loved to garden. He also loved Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Larry is Preceded in death by his father, Lloyd W. Smith, his mother, Mary Christine Smith, his son, Kevin Paul Smith, his Grandson Aaron Walker Strickland, his sister Barbara Cook, and his brothers Richard and Steve Smith, and his loving wife of 25 years, Nancy Smith.
Larry is survived by his children Mike Smith(Rita), Greg Smith (Heather), and Stacey Strickland (Bennie). He is also survived by his brother Robert Smith (Karen), nieces Aimee Lewis (Reginald), Lisa Creen (Ron), and Christine Jones (Kevin). Nephews Brian Cook, and Paul Smith (Amy).
His grandchildren are Derek Franklin (Jill), Hayley Hollingsworth (Skylor), Hannah Jessup (Dylan), Alan Smith, Crystal Miller (Joey) , Chris Smith (Katie) , Whitney Williams (Ben), Taylor Williams, Sydney Strickland, and Brody Smith. He also had many great grandchildren that he loved dearly as well as several great nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Mike Smith, Greg Smith, Bennie Strickland, Eddie Daughtery, Alan Smith, and Hayley Hollingsworth.
Honorary Pallbearers are Advanced Healthcare of TX., and AR Hospice, as well as Paul Allen, Ruben Putteet, and Dr. Larry T. Byrd Gordon and his family.
Visitation will be Thursday, August 31st at 5:00 pm with a Rosary to follow.
The funeral mass will be held at St. John's Catholic Church on Friday, Sept. 1st at 10:00 am
In Lieu of flowers, donations to The Wounded Warrior Project in honor of his son, Kevin Smith would be greatly appreciated.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grossfuneralhome.com for the Smith family.
