Richard Laurence Smith, 91, passed on to see the Lord on Monday, April 29, 2013, at Cedars Health Care Center in Tupelo. He was born July 8, 1921, in Tupelo to Emily Sisk Smith and Rufus O. Smith. He was reared in Christian Science by his mother, but his father attended the First Methodist Church in Tupelo. He was educated at Tupelo High School and the University of Mississippi where he attained a law degree in January 1951. In his profession as an insurance adjustor for the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company (USF&G), he was promoted to the head of the office in Greenwood, Miss., where he retired. He and his wife, Earline Wood Smith from Dorsey, moved back to the Tupelo area and built a retirement home at the Saltillo Fishing Club. He enjoyed boating at J. P. Coleman Marina during his retirement years where he met many friends.
Services will be at 3 p. m. Thursday, May 2, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Fulton with Dr. Kevin Clayton officiating. Burial will be in the Keyes Cemetery.
Survivors include his son and only child, James Wood Smith, who also has a home at the Saltillo Fishing Club, and Jim’s fiancee, Jeri Swift Beard, who was very helpful to Mr. Smith during this trying time.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Earline Wood Smith, who died November 28, 2008; his parents; one brother, Robert O. Smith; and two sisters, Jane S. Miners and Frances Sherer.
Visitation will be from 1 p. m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be shared at www.mcneecemorrisfuneralhome.com.
