Lawrence Clayton Smith

Lawrence Clayton Smith, 71, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico passed away Sunday, August 13, 2017 from cancer. He was with his wife, Dee Catherine Smith in their Rio Rancho home at the time of his passing.

Lawrence was born February 25, 1946 in Houston, Texas to parents, Callie Owen Schindler and Emmett Mitchell Smith. A man of unending motivation, Lawrence thrived on building businesses and managed to build 135 homes all while pursuing his degree from the University of Texas in Austin. During this time, he won awards for design innovation and recognition by “Professional Builder Magazine” as a ‘Future Industry Leader’ and ‘Growth Management Award’ by “Housing Giants of Professional Building.” Throughout his 50-year career as an entrepreneur, Lawrence touted among his many titles; commercial real estate developer, business and marketing consultant, land developer, and regional manager. As a businessman Lawrence was able to, time and again, turn a mere vision into a thriving reality, most recently as Southwest Regional Manager for Graceland Portable Buildings.

Lawrence will be dearly missed by all of his friends and loving family including his wife, Dee Smith; close friends, Denise Smith, Carol Summers, and Jean Michele Tournier; his sister, Lynn Stanton; and niece, Melinda Gleason; his children, Logan and Penny Hemphil, Lawryl and Thad Jarrett, Brett Keenan, Josh and Kristina Keenan; and his grandchildren, Eliza, Henry, Jackson, Bennett, Campbell, Lily and Atticus.

Described by those that knew him as “a gentleman”, “an enigmatic human” and “the best mentor I ever had,” Lawrence touched the lives of so many and was genuinely loved. He showed people kindness and hospitality regardless of circumstance and was the first to drop what he was doing to help another. When Lawrence wasn’t working he could always be found whipping up something delicious in the kitchen, loving on his golden retriever Baker, or getting his daily fill of Fox News. While he loved New Mexico he always remained a Texan at heart and enjoyed bragging on his University of Texas Longhorns each and every season.

Lawrence was a man who cared for others, who forgave others and who loved others. He left this world too soon and his absence will be profoundly felt by all who knew him.

His cremation will take place and upon Lawrence’s wishes his ashes will be scattered by his family in the mountains outside Taos, New Mexico. A Celebration of Life reception will be held Friday, September 1, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at he and his wife, Dee’s home. For more information and to RSVP please email his stepdaughter Brett at keenan.brett@gmail.com . In lieu of flowers, the Smith family kindly requests donations be made to The American Cancer Society www.cancer.org . Please visit our online guestbook for Lawrence at www.FrenchFunerals.com .

FRENCH – Rio Rancho

(Unser Blvd. north of Northern)

1275 Unser Blvd, NE

Rio Rancho, NM 87144

(505) 338-2000