Lanny Arthur Smith

On Sunday, July 30th, 2023, Lanny Smith, 85, of Plains, Texas, put on his cowboy hat and rode off into the West Texas sunrise to check cattle in Cowboy Heaven with Jesus for the very first time.

Lanny passed away at the Shinnery Oaks Community Nursing Facility in Denver City, Texas following a decades-long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Lanny Arthur Smith was born on July 3rd, 1938, in Brownfield, Texas, to the late Leonard Orville “Pete” Smith and Vera Estelle Davis.

After meeting the love of his life and angel on earth, Sheron Ann Smith, Lanny entered into the state of holy matrimony on May 21, 1961, at the First United Methodist Church in Plains. The couple recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary.

Lanny was preceded in death by his parents Pete and Vera Smith, his two brothers-in-law Leland Ellison and Bo Stephens, his daughter-in-law Lachel Smith and a great grandnephew Chisholm Van Dyke.

Lanny leaves behind his wife Sheron Ann Smith of the home. His two sisters: Sandra Ellison; Sheila Stevens; Two sons: Timothy Smith; Steven Smith and wife Tonya; Three grandsons: Jacob Smith and wife Susannah; Joshua Smith and wife Lindsey; Joel Smith; Two granddaughters: Jessica Hogg and husband Jarrod; and Katie Smith. Lanny has four beautiful and talented great-granddaughters Mikayla, Khloe, Vera & Lilith and one athletic great-grandson Hunter.

The family will receive visitors on Friday, August 4, 2023, at the Ratliff Funeral Home Chapel, Plains, Texas. Services will be held at the First Methodist Church in Plains on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 4 PM. Graveside services will follow in the Plains, Cemetery.

The family request that donations in memory of Lanny be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at michaeljfox.org.