Lorren Daryl Smith

1939 - 2018

Lorren Daryl Larry, LD' Smith February 2, 1939 - August 16, 2018 LA MESA Larry Smith passed away August 16th, at home, surrounded by family, days after suffering a major stroke. He was 79. Larry was born in Spokane, WA, to Charles Henry and Emma Liberty Wildman Smith. In his early years he moved around from Spokane and Orient, WA, to Sunnyvale, CA, then finally, settling in El Cajon, CA. He attended Grossmont and El Cajon High Schools, excelling in sports. In 1956, Larry entered the Navy, at the age of 17. Four years later, after he completed his service, he promptly met Carolyn Buckelew on a blind date set up by his brother Randy and his wife and her friend Myrna. They married a year later, (smartest move of his life), and went on to have five children: Daniel (Katie Houlihan) Smith, Lauren (Dave) Goss, Lisa (Chris) Archambault, Melinda (Tony) Borgerding, and Patrick (Katie Ziegler) Smith, and were married for 57 years. A man of many talents, Larry was, respectively: a butcher for Mayfair Market, an ironworker for Soul Steel, owner of LD Smith Construction, an insurance agent for Voya Financial and finally, a school bus driver for SD Unified, but his true love and passion was for sports.Larry coached/managed/sponsored numerous local youth sports teams, including, El Cajon Western LL, and El Cajon Pop Warner (Ravens), with an enthusiastic, and usually winning, gusto. Larry called it like he saw it(he wasn't known as the bad boy' of Western for nothing)... good or bad, you always knew where you stood with him. People like to say, "character counts", well let me tell you, he was a character. His fierce competitiveness was tempered only by his classic sense of humor, (old Redd Foxx jokes were at the forefront), optimism and big heart. He built many lasting friendships with the kids, their parents and his fellow coaches along the way. He truly loved every moment of it. Larry was also a spirited supporter of all sports at Helix High School and anything to do with the Kansas City Chiefs. GO Highlanders! GO KC!Larry, Lare, LD, Dad, Gampy, is survived by his wife and five children, his three brothers, Ronald (late, Karen), Randy (Myrna), and David, eighteen grandchildren, Carrie and Kacy Smith, Natalie, Michelle, Gabrielle and Lizzie Goss, Marcella, Christian and Kate Archambault, Madelyn, Mason and Emma Jessee, Gretchen, Elsa and Smith Borgerding, and Madsen, Maizie and Molly Smith, great-grandson, Luke Castenada, and numerous nieces and nephews.Larry loved his family and friends, and gave his love unconditionally. He was always our biggest supporter, calling daily to check in and get an update on any sports anyone was playing and to tell us how much he loved us. We are so thankful for the wonderful, hilarious, fun-filled years we shared. Our Chief will be sorely missed...already is... but never forgotten. He IS a big part of each one of us.Please join us for a celebration of Larry's life, on October 6, 2018, from 11-2:00, at Sycuan Golf Resort (formerly Singing Hills CC), 3007 Dehesa Rd. 92019.For those interested in making a donation on behalf of Larry, please consider making it to Humane Society.