Obituary of Laralnel Baker Smith

Laralnel (Baker) Smith, 81, of Russellville, AR, died Thursday, January 18, 2018 at National Park Medical Center in Hot Springs, AR.

The daughter of Douglas Banard Baker and Oma Beulah(Morgan) Baker, she was born March 14, 1936 in Athens, TX.  Laralnel was a graduate of Cooper High School in Cooper, TX where she performed with the majorettes and Bulldog Marching Band.  She attended East Texas State now known as Texas A&M.   After college she worked for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc, more commonly known as MGM Studios, on movie productions in Dallas.  During her time there she met many celebrities including the dashing George Hamilton.   Mr. Hamilton asked Laralnel to be his date to a premiere party, however, Mr. and Mrs. Baker objected and she was unable to attend. 

J.E. Smith worked for the Corp of Engineers in Louisiana and was transferred to Cooper Texas to work on Cooper Dam.  Laralnel had also moved home to Cooper and they met, fell in love and later married on May 13th, 1961.  J.E. was transferred to the Corp of Engineers in Russellville, AR and Laralnel worked as a mail room clerk at the Courier Newspaper.  She was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Russellville and the PTO where she was actively involved in her children's education. In later life, Laralnel enjoyed watching old movies, shopping on QVC and especially spending time with her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J.E. Smith; her parents; sister and brother-in-law, Wyvonne Moody and Cooter Moody; brother, Morgan Baker; and brother-in-law, Leevon Mott.

Survivors include her son, Scot Smith, (Genella) of Dover, AR; daughter, Lisa Harvell, (Bobby) of Russellville, AR; six grandchildren, Mikayla Smith, Rachel Smith, Douglas Smith, Morgan Wesley, Eli Harvell and Briar Harvell; one great- grandson, Justin West; Brother, Kenny Baker, (Linda) of

Charleston, Texas; sister-in-law, JoAnn Baker of Farmersville, TX; sister-in-law, Joy Mott of Alexander, LA; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral Service will be held at 2:00PM, Saturday, January 27, 2018 at Charleston United Methodist Church in Cooper, Texas.  Reverend Lyn Phillips will officiate. Visitation will be from 1-2PM, on Saturday, at the church. Memorials may be made to the Maroon and Gray Foundation, PO Box 384 Cooper, TX 75432. Burial will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Cooper,

TX immediately following the service. Arrangements are under the direction of Delta Funeral Home.  You may pay your respects online at www.deltafuneralhome.com and www.humphreyfuneral.com