Obituary of Lawrence Smith

Lawrence E. “Larryâ€? Smith, age 80, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008 at Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital in Burlington after battling several serious health issues. Larry was born May 3, 1927 on the family farm south of Burlington to William F. and Ann(Kansasback) Smith. He was one of 11 children born to this marriage. As a young boy he enjoyed working around the farm and hunting. He recalled playing pool on the family dinner table with several of his siblings, which inspired his love of pool playing for many years. Larry attended country school at East Fairview School up until the 8th grade. As a young man he worked for various farmers and on harvest crews. While learning carpentry skills from Byron Crites he was introduced to his bride to be Frances “Lorettaâ€? Crites. They were married on Aug. 11, 1956 in Burlington. To this marriage one daughter was born. Larry and Loretta lived in Burlington as he continued working for her father until he went to work for a short time in Sterling, at a gas plant. They then moved to Washington state to help Byron build a house for his niece. Once the house was built they moved back to Burlington where he continued his carpentry with Byron and eventually going to work for his brother-in-law, Norm Stevens. Carpentry became his life work leaving his mark on many houses in Burlington and surrounding area. In 1990, Larry went to work at Old Town fixing up and painting the old buildings. Following a serious accident in 1991 he could only work part time, doing odds and ends construction including helping finish his daughter’s house in 1997 when his health no longer allowed him to work with wood. Once retired, Larry enjoyed gardening, feeding birds and squirrels, fishing, hunting, coyote calling and playing card games. He especially enjoyed playing checkers with his grand kids. As his health continued to dwindle he had to give up many of his hobbies. In the last years of his life you could always find him sitting center court at most all home games of the Bethune Bobcats, rooting for his two granddaughters, DaiLynn Rae and Kylie Jo Driscoll. They were his pride and joy and he enjoyed spending time with them and listening to them sing and play the piano. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Emmett, Art, Ray, William, and Roaland and sister Bernice. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Loretta, daughter Kim and husband, Darryl Driscoll and grandchildren DaiLynn and Kylie Driscoll and German foreign exchange student, Ramona Distlberger all of Bethune; Sisters, Ruby Knight, Pearl Carter, Violet Stevens all of Burlington and brother, Don Smith also of Burlington. Many other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends also survive him. Graveside services were held at Fairview Cemetery on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Dustin Sells officiating. Memorials may be made in Larry’s name at The Bank of Burlington, 410 14th Street, Burlington, CO 80807.