Larone Julius Smith

Larone Julius Smith, 75, of Fayetteville went into the loving arms of Jesus on Monday, December 16, 2019. Larone was born in Beebe, Arkansas, on November 20, 1944, to Julius and Clara Wilma Smith. He grew up in Amarillo, Texas, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Beebe, Arkansas. Larone graduated from Beebe High School in 1963, where he was a standout basketball player earning All-District honors and the nickname “Gunner” for his shooting prowess. In 1965, Larone married the love of his life, Pat Pickard of Cabot. He went on to complete his Associates degree at ASU-Beebe and his Bachelor’s in Business Education at Little Rock University (now UALR) in 1968. Larone went to work at East Texas Motor Freight (later acquired by ABF Freight) and, as he liked to say, “had one job for 33 years.” Larone was a member of the Teamsters local 878 until he retired in 2001.

Larone was a big personality who was always quick with a smile and a joke. He had a love for life and enjoyed playing the piano, water skiing, and motorcycling. He especially loved classic cars including his 1967 Pontiac GTO that he bought new. He was an avid Razorback fan who attended every football game. He was a loving husband and father who delighted in his children and grandchildren. “PaPa” attended every game, concert, or performance if his grandchildren were involved. He was marked by a strong faith in Jesus Christ that was evident to all who met him. Despite his health challenges he was always appreciative of every day the Lord gave him. He was a member of Victory Baptist Church in Sherwood until he moved to Fayetteville, where he joined Fellowship Bible Church.

Larone is preceded in death by his father, Julius Smith. He is survived by his mother, Clara Smith, of Sherwood, his wife of 54 years, Pat Smith, his son Michael Smith and wife Leigh, daughter Kim Fuhrman and husband Chad, all of Fayetteville, and six grandchildren, Aidan, Isaac, Samuel and Lucy Smith, and Noah and Laney Fuhrman, and his brother, Danny Smith and wife Ginger of Russellville, as well as a large extended family.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM on Thursday, December 19, at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home in North Little Rock. Funeral services will be held at Victory Baptist Church in Sherwood at 10 AM on Friday, December 20, with Brother Tom Hart officiating. Entombment will follow at Rest Hills Memorial Park. A celebration of life will be held at Fellowship Fayetteville at 1:00 on Saturday, December 21, with Pastor Clark Nolen leading.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Victory Baptist Church, Fellowship Bible Church or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

To share a Memory of Larone with his family visit www.griffinleggettresthills.com