Larry Wesley Smith, 83, of Silver City passed away peacefully in his home on Friday, March 21, 2025. He was born August 11, 1941 to his parents, David Pat and Donnie (O'Connell) Smith, in Brownwood, TX at home and moved to Arizona before settling in Grant County, New Mexico.
He graduated from Cliff High School in 1959. He worked several movies under the direction of John Wayne; he can be seen in 2 movies Rio Bravo and The Cowboys. He moved to Silver City where he married Nancy Williams and had 2 sons. That marriage blessed 2 sons: David Keith (stillborn), and Larry Jay Smith. His second marriage and love of his life was to Sandra Hayes (deceased) and they together had 2 children Sharon (Weech) and Wes.
He worked for 31 years at the Phelps Dodge in Tyrone and made numerous lifelong friends. Larry was an avid hunter, trapper, and fisherman. There wasn't much he couldn't do. He was a wood cutter, hair cutter, farrier, butcher, entomologist, cook, dog trainer, roper, cowboy, horse trainer, gardener, food preserver, butcher, mason, carpenter, gun smith, mechanic.
He loved being a dad and being a leader for shooting sports, 4-H, livestock shows, and packing in to Gila. He loved his pack trips and going down the Gila. His favorite title was Grandpa Larry. He loved his grandkids and took pride and in teaching them to hunt, fish, and take shots on occasion.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years-Sandra Hayes Smith; parents Donnie and Pat Smith of San Saba, TX; infant son; first wife Nancy Williams (Smith/Thacker); brothers Tom Smith of US Virgin Islands and Don Boyd of Carlsbad; and his wife Sally Boyd; Sister Patsy Madison and husband John of Hallettsville, TX; in-laws Barnie and Ruth Hayes; and their 5 children; and niece Sherri Cole; and dear friends Russell Upton and DA White.
He is survived by his son Larry Jay Smith of Cliff; his daughter Sharon (Weech) Young and husband Mitchell Young of Capitan and their children Justin of Parker, CO, Jake and Wife Kayla of Kissimmee, FL, and Josh of Parker ,CO; his son Wes Smith and wife Julie of Safford, AZ and their children Justin Longbrake of Encinitas, CA and Josh Longbrake of Morenci, AZ; brother David (Bud) and his wife Berta of Mimbres, and sister Margaret Coley of Roswell; brother in-law Grady Littleton; numerous nieces and nephews, his favorite nephew Gary Littleton and wife Shelly, and their son Grady, lots of adopted neighborhood kids and his special friends, Ray Marquez, Caesar Flores, Danny Carrasco, Romy Medrano, Diana Carrasco, Gordon and Kathy White, Julie White, Kevin Beck, Anton, Ty Bays, numerous doctors, and the staff of Ambercare.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, March 28, 2025 at 1:00pm at Terrazas Funeral Chapels. At the request of our dad, his ashes will spread in his beloved Gila Forest.
Cremation will take place at Terrazas Crematory. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory. Trusted care for the ones you. ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.
