Larry F. Smith

Larry F. Smith, 78, of Topeka, Kansas, died peacefully at home early on October 10, 2023. He was born July 2, 1945, the first of two sons of Dean and Valerie (Feight) Smith of Clyde, Kansas. He married his high school sweetheart, Susan L. Spencer, also of Clyde, on February 11, 1967, in Topeka, where they have made their home ever since. She survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Dawn Frey and Cori (Michael) Bird, both of Topeka; two grandchildren, Erinn Bird of Topeka and Isaac Bird of Mount Prospect, Illinois; one brother, Gary L. Smith (Timmerly Eklund) of Washburn, Illinois; several cousins; and a cat named Jeeves who adopted Larry several years ago by jumping on his lap at a shelter. Larry attended Clyde High School, where he excelled in football and track, and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1968 from Washburn University of Topeka. His first job out of college was selling insurance, and he continued in that field throughout his working life. After starting with a large agency, he became an independent agent for many years and then a broker. He later founded his own agency, Total Insurance Inc., which he operated until his semi-retirement in 1999. Larry loved being outdoors, and hunting in particular was a big part of his life. He grew up hunting quail, pheasants, rabbits, squirrels and raccoons in the timber and grasslands around his hometown, often with his father and other seasoned hunters. He learned basic taxidermy as a teen through a correspondence course and tanned hides of raccoons, badgers, and coyotes. He later also hunted other game elsewhere, including deer in Wyoming, antelope in Montana, and bear in Idaho. Apart from hunting, he also was involved in competitive pistol shooting and was a longtime member of the Capital City Gun Club, serving as an officer at one point. Larry had a passion for learning and doing new things, both exotic and close to home. He traveled internationally, including trips to Nepal and India. He took up gourmet cooking and enjoyed creating multi-course dinners for family, including special desserts for his grandchildren. He was on the leading edge of learning about and using computers, long before they became commonplace in homes and elsewhere. From his days as a high school athlete, Larry remained physically very active throughout his life. At various times he participated extensively in bicycling, competitive weightlifting, and running, As a member of the Sunflower Striders, he sometimes competed in road and trail races, including a local half-marathon. He was still continuing to run short distances and work out as recently as several weeks before his death. No immediate services are planned. In keeping with his wishes, he will be cremated and his ashes will be scattered later at an area where he would hunt, ensuring that his spirit will forever abide in a familiar and welcoming place. Memorial donations can be sent online to the Washburn University General Scholarship Fund, https://wualumni.org/givenow or mailed to Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614. There will be a memorial service for Larry on July 12, 2024. To request details or information about this service, please contact freydawn86@gmail.com. Condolences may be sent online to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com

Larry F. Smith

July 2, 1945 - October 10, 2023