Laryssa Fae Garner Smith, 47, of Warner, Oklahoma, went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at St. Francis Hospital in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Laryssa was born August 25, 1975, in Duncan, Oklahoma, to Larry and Debra Sutton Garner. Laryssa grew up in Little Axe, Davidson and Maysville, Oklahoma, because her father was a superintendent, and her mother was an elementary school teacher. She always cherished the many long-lasting memories and lifetime friends she made throughout her life. She graduated from Maysville High School in 1993, where she was the President of the National Honor Society, Secretary and Sweetheart of Key Club, FFA Secretary, FHA Vice-president, Parliamentary and Procedure President, Sophomore class officer, Junior Class Queen, Student Council member, Garvin County 4-H officer and Senior Hall of Fame and Teen Leader, and Who’s Who Among American High School Students.
After high school graduation, Laryssa attended college at USAO in Chickasha, Oklahoma, majoring in computer science and elementary education. She later received her early childhood education degree from TCC in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She taught in the preschool program and was a site director at Nowata Childcare Center in Nowata, Oklahoma.
Laryssa was a member of the First Baptist Church in Nowata. One thing that brought Laryssa great joy was working on her family farm. She especially loved helping with cattle operation. Since the time that she was a very young girl, she named every cow, calf, and bull, and through the years the herd grew as each generation of calves were born.
Her favorite pastime was fishing in the big family catfish pond, especially when she went fishing with her daughter, Mackenzie.
She is survived by her most outstanding accomplishment in life, her daughter, Mackenzie Taelor Smith of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma; her parents, Larry and Debra Sutton Garner of Hobart, Oklahoma; along with aunts, uncles, and numerous cousins. She will be missed by everyone who knew and loved her.
She is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Ted and Laura Rather Sutton, formerly of Loco, Oklahoma; and her paternal grandparents, R.H. (Ryan) and Margie Allen Garner, formerly of Gotebo, Oklahoma.
A graveside service was held Monday, November 14, 2022, at Union Hatchet Cemetery, Bessie, Oklahoma, under the Direction of Ray and Martha’s Funeral Home, Hobart.
