Mr. Laurence Redmond Smith

Laurence Redmond Smith was born on Sept. 22, 1933, in Quincy, IL, to Lt. Col. Laurence Dick Smith and Ella Smith. A proud descendent of the Dick Brothers Brewery, he lived a long, faithful, and adventurous life alongside his beloved wife of sixty-nine years, Sally Jo Smith. Together, they raised five children while farming along the Mississippi River.

In his younger years, Larry’s family moved to Fort McLellan in Anniston, AL, a German prisoner of war camp where his father was stationed. He attended military school and developed his love of farming through friendships with German prisoners. After the war, the family returned to Quincy where he attended St. Peter Catholic School and Quincy High School.

Larry was a 1955 graduate of the University of Illinois where he was a member of the wrestling team and Phi Kappa fraternity. After graduation, he joined the Army and was sent to Korea. He returned home in 1957 and married Sally Jo. He was in the Illinois Army reserves until 1961.

Farming corn and soybeans, Larry began married life down by the Mississippi River. When his house was washed away by floods, he moved his family to 36th and Catherine Rd. He opened a golf driving range where PGA golfer D.A. Weibring worked as a teenager.

Larry was a Quincy community leader and volunteer. He coached basketball at St. Dominic Catholic School, where his children attended and served as president of both the Quincy Notre Dame High School board and the Mart Heinen Club, supporting QU athletics. Larry enjoyed playing golf at both Spring Lake Country Club and Quincy Country Club. He met weekly at the Coach House with fellow farmers, friends and Quincy businessmen.

After his farming career, Larry and Sally moved to Michigan, New York and Georgia, finally settling in San Antonio, TX, to be near grandchildren. He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church where he was involved in ACTS retreats. Larry was a proud grandpa, great grandpa and cancer survivor.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Lt. Col. Laurence Dick Smith and Ella Smith.

Larry is survived by his wife, Sally Jo Smith, his sisters Joan Wallace and Ceil Kuhlman, his children Nanette Laudadio (Tim Laudadio), Cindy Smith, Laurence Redmond Smith II (Elizabeth Smith), Caroline Garcia (Jesse Garcia), and Julia Redmond. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Collin Garcia (Cathryn Garcia), Hannah Garcia, Ella Smith, Grant Smith and Aidan Smith, and by one great grandchild, Rhett Garcia.

The family will receive friends at 3:00 p.m., with a Rosary to follow at 4:00 p.m., on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at Porter Loring Mortuary, 1101 McCullough Ave., 78212. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 4201 De Zavala, 78249.