Laurence Reynolds Smith

The Honorable Laurence “Larry” Reynolds Smith, of Kansas City, Missouri, a retired judge of the Circuit Court of Jackson County, died at the age of 97 on January 18, 2012 at Kansas City Hospice House. A celebration of Larry’s life will be held on February 4, 2012 at 1:00 pm at Mount Moriah and Freeman Funeral Home at 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri, with a reception from 2:00-3:30 at Kingswood Senior Living Community at 10000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri, 64114. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Kingswood Foundation for Educational Forums, sent to the Kingswood address above, attention Gail Benne. Larry was born in Paola, Kansas on November 9, 1914 to Jennie Alice Heinselman Smith and Levi Brown Smith. He was preceded in death by his first wife Rosemary Doermann Smith, brother Paul, sister Frances, and infant sister Faye. Family members include his wife Jan Neubert Smith, daughters Sylvia Smith Anderson (husband Sonny), Marcia Smith Pasqualini (husband Jean), three stepchildren, eight grandchildren, and one great grandson. Larry attended Park College and the University of Kansas, and received a combined degree in liberal arts and law. He worked as a legal editor in Oklahoma and New York, and served as a Sergeant in the Army from 1941-1945. He then moved to Kansas City, Mo., where he lived for the rest of his life. He worked in a private law firm, became Commissioner of the Probate Court in 1964, and was appointed Circuit Court Judge in Division 12 in Independence, Missouri, in 1970. Judge Smith was elected Presiding Judge by the Circuit Court en banc in 1978. Following his retirement in 1984, he sat as a senior judge for the Jackson County Circuit Court, served as one of the original members of the Jackson County Ethics Commission, worked in the volunteer attorney project of the Kansas City Bar, delivered Meals on Wheels, provided transportation with Wheels that Care, was an ambassador at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, and taught courses at Shepherd’s Center’s. In 1993, University Press of America published his book, Right and Wrong: Practical Ethics. Larry was a member of Country Club United Methodist Church, president of the Downtown Optimist Club, and the first president of the national organization that is now called Tall Clubs International (www.tall.org). In 2007, Larry was chosen by the Kansas City Royals to be one of the first honorees to sit in the Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat at Kauffman Stadium. Condolences may be offered at www.mtmoriah-freeman.com. Arrangements under the direction of Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.