Larry Smith

Larry Smith Larry Eugene Smith, Sr. was born to Arthur Z. and Verna Mae (Moore) Smith on March 23, 1956 in Kansas City, Kansas. Larry loved the Lord and accepted him as his Lord and Savior the age 12. Larry received his educion in the Kansas City, Kansas USD 500 tending Douglass Elementary, Northeast Junior High and graduing from Sumner High School “Spartans” Class of 1974. Larry had received a scholarship from Washburn University in Topeka. After his graduion from high school he started placing applicions with various companies. He had to make choices either go to school, Washburn University, apply with Santa Fe Railroad or General Motors. He ultimely chose General Motors. Larry married Claretta Jones-Williams in 1976 and 3 children were born to this union: Larry E. Jr., Eric L. and Nikita Smith. Larry remarried in 1982 to Pamela K. Elmer-Shelton and to th union 4 more children were added to this union: Ebony S. Shelton, Essence S., Ellis S. and Elmer S. Smith. Larry joined Forest Grove Missionary Baptist Church in 1990 and was ordained as a deacon by Dr. Cecil Poe in 1992. Larry took his serving the Lord seriously. Early on after joining the church, he became the church bus driver, lawn care maintenance caregiver, tending midweek services, Mission Board meetings and a member of the choir. Larry was appointed Chairman over the Deacon Board in 1993. He also served on the Finance Committee and Trustee Board, while still driving the bus weekly for Sunday School. Larry loved his church! He enjoyed being the church bus driver going to different conferences in different cities and he was always on time, well really-really early. I would say Dea. you will have to be pient since you are the volunteer driver for the Sunday School Church Van. Larry would say “I will leave them if they are not ready”, you can just believe th the riders were happy to get to church early. Remembering the morning breakfasts, Lamar’s big donuts, YEAH! Larry truly did not mind staying busy. Larry was told by one of the mothers of the church to sit down. His response was yes ma’am, and he would sit down quietly, however about 10 minutes ler he was up needing to check on something. Larry was given more responsibilities when Pastor Dr. Desmond C. Lamb, Sr. was called to pastor Forest Grove, July 13, 1997, appointed him to teach Sunday School, he also was ready and willing to clean up the church, wh we thought was trash, he would say no keep it, we might need it, and sure enough, we would need it. Larry was employed General Motors Fairfax Plant as an assembly worker with his specialty being a HVAC Coordinor for 31 years and 7 months. While employed General Motors Larry played company sports, softball, underhanded fast pitch, basketball with the Bucks with trips travelling to Mexico (about 4 times). Larry was able by God to be employed with General Motors from age 18 to age 50 when he retired in 2006. He really enjoyed his sports. KU Jayhawks, KC Chiefs and KC Royals, he got a lot better slowing down wching sports after joining church. Larry stayed involved with his Sumner High School Class reunion. He was appointed the Reunion Assistant Chaplin for the “20th” Class Reunion in 1994, which he loved doing. Larry was a summer youth instructor the Amayo Argentine Community Center as a part-time worker for the Unified Government in Wyandotte County. His wife, Pam, became his supervisor the Community Center. While there he also became a Referee for the youth and adult sports program. Larry was preceded in deh by his parents, Arthur Z. and Verna Mae (Moore) Smith; 4 brothers: Arthur L. Smith, Doyle J. Smith, Keith Smith and Kenneth Smith; 2 sisters: Shirley A. Smith-Holmes and Gwendolyn J. Smith; 2 nephews: Wade Smith and Cortee Smith; and 1 gre nephew, Jamal Washington. He departed this life and received his heavenly wings on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 the University of Kansas Medical Center surrounded by his wife, children and loved ones. He leaves to forever cherish his memories: his wife, Pamela K. (Elmer-Shelton) Smith of Kansas City, KS; seven children: Larry E. (Tracy) Smith, Jr. of Overland Park, KS, Eric L. (Joneka) Smith of Kansas City, KS, Ebony S. Shelton of Kansas City, KS, Nikita L. (Miguel) Smith-Fenrick, of Kansas City, MO, Essence S. Smith of Overland Park, KS, Ellis S. Smith of Overland Park, KS, and Elmer S. Smith of Kansas City, KS; 27 grandchildren; 6 gre grandchildren; 3 sisters: Eva Mae Jones of Kansas City, KS, Pricia M. (Cleuphus) Smith-Hester of Shreveport, LA and Debra L. Smith-Hampton of Kansas City, KS; one sister-in-love, Margaret L. Mosley of Kansas City, KS; six brothers-in-love: Jerrie (Rose Mary) Moye of Pine Bluff, AR, Charles (Linda) Moye of Kansas City, MO, George G. Elmer and Joe Q. Elmer of Kansas City, KS, Donald W. (Stachia) Elmer of Houston, TX and Ronald C. (Lashawn) Elmer of Mesquite, TX. He also leaves a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and his Forest Grove church family.