Larry Smith

Larry D. Smith was born in Snyder, Oklahoma on June 29, 1951 and departed this life on February 27, 2016. Funeral Services will be12:00p.m. Saturday, March 5, 2016 at Baker Heights Church of Christ, 5382 Texas Ave, Abilene, Texas. Burial will be 12:00p.m.Monday, March 7, 2016, at The Texas State Veterans Cemetery, 7457 W. Lake Rd, Abilene, Texas; Visitation will be 6:30 p.m.to 8:30 p.m., Friday, March 4, 2016 at Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 Hwy 277 South, Abilene, Texas.

Larry attended L. G. Pinkston High School in Dallas, Texas being raised at that time by his older sister, Margie. After graduation, Larry left Margie to follow in his older brother, Alvin's, footsteps by joining the Air Force to become a firefighter. Four years later, he separated from the Air Force. His passion for firefighting and his leadership skills made it a "no brainer" that he would come back to his same job except wearing a different uniform as a civil servant only a few weeks later. He served another 30 years before retiring. It did not take long before he became bored with retirement and landed another job he loved at Hendrick Medical Supply as a part-time warehouse employee. He loved being around people. He worked there until he had to retire permanently in January 2009.
Larry was preceded in death by parents James and Louise Smith; foster parents Albert and Pauline Bush; 3 sisters: Ida Smith, Bobbie Steel, and Alberta Elkins; 4 brothers: Jimmy Smith, Clyde Smith, Ronnie Smith and Thaddeus Smith; mother-in-law Ruby Gaines.

Larry leaves to cherish his memories his loving wife of 22 years, Sheila Smith; 4 children: Shana Merrick, Garland, Texas, Stephonse Cleghorn, Abilene, Texas, Sotonye Smith, Fort Worth, Texas and Ayana Clay, Pascagoula, Mississippi; 4 sisters: Georgianna Steel, Jacksonville, Florida; Lillie Jean Jones, Lawton, Oklahoma; Christine Ross, Springfield, Missouri; Margie Tenison (James), Seagoville, Texas; 1 brother: Alvin Smith (Mattie), Dallas, Texas; 2 foster brothers: Wendell Owens (Lela) and Milton Owens (Shirley) both, Dallas Texas; 1 foster sister: Loretta Woodson, Dallas, Texas, 3 sister-in-laws: N. Ann Estelle (Joe) of Waco, Texas; Lavern Gaines, Hutto, Texas; Valerie Gaines, Jacksonville, Florida; 2 brother-in-laws: Joseph Gaines Jr. of Waco, Texas; and Darrell Gaines(Michele) of Hutto, Texas; 12 grandchildren: a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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