Larry R Smith

OZARK…Mr. Larry R. Smith, a resident of Ozark, died Thursday morning, June 26, 2025, at his home. He was 67.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Charles Goldsmith officiating. Burial will follow in Westview Memorial Cemetery. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Mr. Smith, born and raised in the close-knit town of Ozark, Alabama, was the beloved son of the late Billy Ray Smith and Becky Marie Fulford Smith. Ozark wasn’t just where he came from, it was the foundation of who he was.

Over the years, Mr. Smith put his skills and passion for cars to good use. He worked as a Certified Auto Body Repairman at several local businesses, including Jerry Mitchell Chevrolet, Walter Hand Ford, Maaco, and Gilland Chevrolet. He had a real talent for bringing things back to life—whether it was a fender that needed straightening or a paint job that needed perfecting. He took pride in his craft, not just because it paid the bills, but because he genuinely loved what he did. He believed in putting in an honest day’s work, and his hands—often stained with grease and paint—were proof of his dedication.

When he wasn’t at work, you could almost always find him with a fishing rod in hand. Fishing wasn’t just a hobby for him, it was a way to find peace, to breathe a little deeper, and to enjoy the quiet moments that life too often rushes past. There was something about being out on the water that made him feel grounded.

Mr. Smith also had a keen eye for rare and vintage coins. He found joy in the stories each old coin held pieces of history he could hold in his hand. Collecting wasn’t just about value to him; it was about connection, about preserving something meaningful and sharing it with others who understood.

But perhaps nothing brought him more joy than his loyal dog, Aubie. To say their bond was special would be an understatement. Aubie wasn’t just a pet, he was family. They were constant companions, and anyone who saw them together could tell just how deep that love ran. Through good days and hard times, Aubie was always by his side.

Mr. Smith's life was also marked by loss. He was preceded in death by his dear sister, Paula Michelle Potter, and his brother, James Harold Smith. Their memory never left him, and he carried them in his heart every day.

Surviving relatives include his aunt, Shirley Lowery, Ozark; sister-in-law, Sherry Smith, Skipperville; brother-in-law, Paul Potter, Skipperville; nieces and nephews, Misty Smith (Ricky Whitehead), Jennifer Barranco (Vince), Shelby Smith (Daniel Massey), B.J. Smith (Alicia), and Josh Smith; Gary Wimberly, his lifelong best friend; several cousins.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Hunter Whitehead, Jaxon Whitehead, Brayden Whitehead, Bryce Smith, Braxton Barranco, and Paul Potter.