In Memory of Sgt. Larry Smith
January 11th, 2009 by Joe BurgessAfter many fund raisers, enough money was raised to purchase the monument for Sgt Larry D. Smith of the Monticello Police Department.
His monument was set on December 23, 2008 which was Larry’s 51st Birthday.
There is no way his Police Department family could ever express our appreciation to everyone that helped from purchasing a ticket to making a donation and or physically helping during each fund raiser that we had, therefore those of you that did help please know we appreciate each and everyone of you. Larry very much deserved this beautiful monument.
We also would like to give a special thank you to Lyle & Kim Welch & all employees of Southeast Emergency Ambulance Service for everything you did to help make this possible. Larry is and forever will be missed but will Never be forgotten.
We Love you Larry. 1902 10-7 10-42 God Speed.
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The article below was posted on August 15, 2008.
This article is meant to serve as a tribute to a friend, Sgt. Larry Smith of the Monticello Police Dept.
Over 30 law enforcement and related units took part in the ceremonial procession to Oakland Cemetery.
Bagpipes played before the graveside service, and closed with Amazing Grace.
Over 50 representatives of local law enforcement and related fields were present in honor of Sgt. Smith. Most are shown here, standing in formation.
The honor guard fired shots in his memory.
Taps was played, and Chief Robert Rosegrant accepted the ceremonial flag that draped the casket, to present to Larry’s family.Â
As the service came to an end, Sgt. Smith’s “Last Call” was heard over the police radio, as a hush fell over the crowd.
The services were both touching, and inspirational.Â
Rest in peace, Larry. You have changed many lives by the way you lived your’s.
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Sgt. Larry Smith of the Monticello Police Department died earlier this week after a courageous battle with cancer.
Larry served in the field of law enforcement for 28 years, with 16 years serving the city of Monticello.
Our sympathies and prayers go out to his family.
Robert Rosegrant, Police Chief, Monticello.
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MonticelloLive.com would like to share these memories of Sgt. Larry Smith with you, as a tribute to him.
One Monticello Life, Sgt. Larry Smith.
Larry’s Airplane Ride and Fishing Trip.
Police vs. Fire Dept. Softball Game, Larry threw out the first pitch.
It was suggested that it would be appropriate to wear the Wristbands remembering Larry as a tribute to him, as well.
Visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m., with the funeral service Thursday morning at 11 o’clock, both at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetary.
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Be at peace buddy, we Love You and will miss you!
My thoughts and prayers go out to Larry’s friends and family. i know just what you are going through. Am currently dealing with this very same cancer in my family.
MPD has lost one of it’s finest. While I never had the opportunity to meet him personally, everything I’ve read and heard about him has been absolutely amazing. Our prayers are with his family, friends and fellow officers.
I worked with Larry for several years. He was a good man and officer. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family and friends.
it has been an honor taking care of larry not only as his nurse but as a friend. my heart goes out to trish who dedicated her life to him these past several months and larry jr and family. again trish-i can only hope to be half the friend to you that you were to larry!!
I’m sorry to hear about Mr. Larry he was a very nice police officer, a very fine person. We will miss him. My prayers goes out to his family.
Sometimes it’s hard to find the words to say at a time like this. Larry was a wonderful man that was so dedicated to his job and family. He always had a smile for those around him..even when he was down and so ill. We’re gonna miss this wonderful man!
At this time, I would like all that bought a bracelet to help Larry with his medical expenses, to wear their bracelet in memory of him. Rest In Peace, Larry! We Love and Miss You, our special friend!! To the family, you’re in our prayers. Larry was a blessing to all that knew him…we were so honored to have him on our police force..Thank you for sharing this man with us..You raised a fine son that you can truly be proud of..he was a big influence to alot of people.
I feel so blessed to live and work in a town like Monticello Ar, The love and caring I have seen in the last several days fills my heart. We will all miss Larry, his easy smile and his one liners, but there will be a strength that comes from our love of God and each other. I know I have made some new friends during this time and grown stronger in some old friendships. Larry was a very lucky man to have friends like Trish and Eddy. He discovered new friends those last days, like Jason Beckman. The Monticello Police Dept. The Drew Co. Deputies and SEEMS are truly famly. I had never had a chance to see my daughter Kim, at work until I saw her taking care of Larry, I am so very proud of her and the love and compassion she brought to Larry and everyone that was there. I also am so very proud of the man Jason has grown into, the bond that he had with Larry just can not be explained. Larry Jr. Trish and all of Larry’s family, you can be proud of the way Larry touched everyones life that knew him. In the days ahead just know you are all loved.
For all of you that know me you know that Larry Smith or Uncle Larry to Lindsey and I that he was a HUGE part of our lives. He was a GREAT person and such a wonderful friend. He wasnt really in our family by blood but will always be OUR uncle larry.We always considered him OUR family member.He has been in my life for as long as I can remeber 21 years….thats alot of memories that I will never forget.I will miss him so much and will NEVER forget him. I know he is still taking care of me….not here in monticello but in heaven with the good lord watching over ALL of us. Also thanks to everyone who helped uncle larry through his hard times. To my Mom Trisha Harvey..You know you were his best friend….Just think of him as your own personal angel that is watching over you 24/7 and always remember he loved you with all of his hearT!!!I love you mom!
I love you Uncle Larry!
RIP
YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!
*Laci or to him Laci Lou and Dustin Harris*
Well as hard as it is to wright this its even harder to act like it ever happed. i lost a very great man in my life monday morning. i thought it was just a dream when i heard the news but quickly learned it was all so real. everyone knew my uncle larry and he has touched everyone’s heart. i hate the feeling of knowing that he is gone off of the earth but it does give me a good feeling to know that he is in a great place where pain does not exsist. i wish i could of spent more time with him and maybe gave him a few extra hugs but i know that i will be able to give him all the time and hugs one day. until then i will know not to take any one for granite and know that we arent promised tomorrow so live your life to the fullest. i will never forget my uncle larry aand all the great times we’ve had together. He sure knew how to make someone laugh and there to pick you up when you were down. he never gave up and i;m sooo proud of him for that. i’m writing this to let everyone know what an awesome man uncle larry was. my mom has done so much for him and i look up to her for that. i just ask that you continue to keep my family and uncle larry’s family in your prayers. God Bless!!
R.I.P. Uncle Larry i love you!!!
Love your Lil’ Lin
Larry and I have done alot of talking over the last months. I know were he is now and that he has no pain to deal with. I want to thank everyone for an outstanding job they done during his illness. With out the help of Trish and the southeast ambulance service, he would have not been on this earth as long as he was. I want to say one thing to my friend and brother, “save a seat for me in that boat”. I’ll be up there with you one day and we can finish our fishing contest. I think you caught two more than me the last time we went. Larry you will be greatly missed. Love Eddy.
Larry is a great person to whom god felt like it was time to call him home. We all should feel blessed to make it there one day. I know no matter what anyone say’s right now it will not make anyone feel any better and for some it will take a really long time to ease the pain. I have worked with Larry for 13 years and he always had a smile and kind words, even when I would call and start the conversation with “don’t shoot the messanger” when dealing with a juvenile. Any time I had a problem with a juvenile and wanted to work with them instead of straight to jail he would work with me. “We all were young once” he would say. God Bless all of his Family and Friends.
I would just like to say that the entire Smith family are in our prayers, along with Ms. Trish. I have known Mr. Larry and his family from eudora for years and I have had the honor to work with Larry Jr. at the sheriffs department. I hate that we lost him as a police officer even more as a friend , but we will see him again and when we do he will be pain free and be at the gates to welcome all of his friends and family in to join him.
It was truly an Honor to be able to be called Larry’s friend and able to be there to help take care of him and be with him with his family and dearest friend Trish. To Trish, Jr. and the rest of the family may God give you peace and comfort this time of sorrow. We love yall and share in your times of grief. I will continue to be there anytime for you and will continue to keep you in my prayers. God Bless you all. Larry will be missed but NEVER FORGOTTEN.
WELL I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY TO THE FAMILY THAT IT WAS A PLEASURE TO MEET ALL OF YOU. PENNY YOU KNOW YOUR BROTHER IS STILL TAKING YOU FOR A RIDE IN HIS PATROL CAR, TRISH YOU HAVE DONE A VERY GOOD THING BECAUSE IT ALL CAME FROM YOUR HEART. I STILL REMEMBER THE NIGHTS I WAS ON DUTY AND I WOULD STOP BY AND LARRY AND I WOULD TALK AND JOKE ABOUT THINGS AND TIMES GONE BY AND FOR ALL THE YEARS THAT I’VE KNOWN LARRY I WILL ALWAYS CHARISH AND NEVER FORGET A TRUE FRIEND. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND.
I can’t understand,how a man I never knew can touch my heart.Most of us will never have a friend like Tris.I don’t know her either, but she has made me want to be a better friend to people.There are no words to help the pain.I ask GOD to ease the pain in our hearts.
Monticello wrote your name in the sky, But the wind blew it away,We wrote your name in the sand,But the waves washed it away,We wrote your name in our hearts,AND FOREVER IT WILL STAY….R.I.P. Mr.Larry
sue, that is precious!!!! i have never heard that but i love it!!!!
Thank you Kim and the site you made for Mr.Larry is great, it makes me cry. That was very thoughtfull of you.Sorry TRISH I mispelled your name.
Larry Jr and I would also like to say thanks for everyones love and support in this trying time. It means alot to know that Larry Sr. was loved by so many. He is a very special person and a loving person. He had no ememies, everyone loved him, it was hard not to love him. He was a big teddy bear, he had the biggest heart and i promise you that there was enough to go around. There are not enough words in the dictionary that could describe him. He has four grandkids that adore him. They always liked to wrestle with him and play with his phone and watch. He would always tell them when they were here and he was on the phone with Larry JR that he was going to hit them in their nose. He just had a very funny sense of humor knowing he wouldn’t hurt a fly. It has been an honor being apart of his life for the past two and half years, He called me his daughternlaw and I always introduced him to everyone as my fathernlaw. We love him and we will miss him everyday until we see him again standing at the white pearly gates with a fishing pole in his hand saying are you ready to go fishing with the biggest smile on his face. For the past two and half years he has tried to get me or embarrass me but i wouldnt let him cause i always had a come back, so i hope that is trying to come up with somehthing good so when i get up there so he can TRY to get me.
We would also like to give a special thanks to
Kim, Jason, Paul, Doug, and to all of the staff at Southeast Emergency Medical Services for their love and dedication
Cheif Rosengrant, John Dement, John Carter, Hank Holinger, Ted Williams and to all the staff at Monticello Police Department for their love and deication
Rex Davis, Scott Williams, Ac Simpson, David Wesson, Sheriff Mark Gober, and a special thanks to Robin Hood and his family for the service and that beautiful song. and to all of the staff at the Drew County Sheriff Department.
to David Hoffman for those lovely words that he shared at the service, and to all the Arkansas State Police Officers, Highway Patrol, and if i have left anyone i am so sorry, but we promise we have not nor will we ever forget you.
We would also like to say a very very special thank you to Trish and Eddy they are angels sent from Heaven and Jr and I love you both very much and you two will always have a special place in our hearts.
Larry ran the race, finished the course and now has the reward he so deserved. He fought long and hard against the battle with cancer, as he did with everything he believed in. David and I have known Larry and the Smith family for most of our lives and feel like they are family not just friends and losing Larry was hard on all of us. I want to say to the city of Monticello’s Police Department, Sheriff’s Dept., Ambulance Service and all the people that took part in any of the care of Larry or the services that was so honorable, THANKS FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD FRIEND TO HIM AND HIS FAMILY AND FOR GIVING TOP HONORS HERE ON EARTH TO A WONDERFUL PERSON. We know his rewards in heaven can only be much greater. I give theses thanks not only for myself and David but also for Ms. Betty and Mr. Virgil I know that could not have been more honored and blessed by all that was done. Also, to those who went on the 15th of August to the blood drive, I want to say a very special thank you. I was notified by Gary that 27 people gave (the GIFT OF LIFE) with 3 more trying to give. This is a very meaning full thing for alot of people so thanks again. I also want to say to JR. we know that you are like your Dad and will continue with the same love and respect for others that he had. May God bless you and your family. Thanks again and keep JR. and his family and Betty and Virgil in your daily prayers. Larry is gone but will never be forgotten.