Larry Smith (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Larry Eugene Smith, son of Chester A. “Bill” and Levina J. Ater Smith, was born September 19, 1935, in Macon, Illinois. He departed this life Saturday, September 28, 2019, in his home in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty-four years and nine days.
On April 5, 1963, he was united in marriage to Catherine Louise Tribble, and they shared the last fifty-six years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father, Edgar L. Sims; a grandson, Tyler Evans; a brother, Roy N. Smith; and in-laws, Forrest and Dorotha Tribble, and Lee A. Tribble.
Larry is survived by his wife, Catherine, of the home; a daughter, Debbie Evans, and her husband, Chuck, of Blue Springs, Missouri; a granddaughter, Katie Evans, of Overland Park, Kansas; a brother, James L. Smith, and his wife, Barbara, of Freeman, Missouri; two brothers-in-law, James L. Tribble, of Lenexa, Kansas, and John F. Tribble, and his wife, Marsha, of Kansas City, Kansas; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and close friends.
He was born and raised in Macon, Illinois, with close ties to his grandpa and grandma Ater. After the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, Larry began working at the A & P Grocery for several years. He then worked for the Wagner Cartage Company in Kansas City, Missouri until retiring.
Larry loved watching car races, and in 1984, he and Catherine purchased a motor home and began traveling and attending races in several states. In 1987, they decided to be full time RVer’s and traveled in the summer months, and wintered in Mercedes, Texas. In 1992, they moved full time to Texas, where they stayed until moving to Missouri in 2004, to be closer to family. In 2010, they moved to Springfield and made their home. Larry enjoyed the bus rides to the casinos, where he had made many new friends.
Larry was a loving husband, dad, grandpa, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and know that he will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
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