Laura Lou Bearden Smith Wilson

View Video Tribute Laura Lou Bearden Smith Wilson, 83, of Maumelle, passed away December 2, 2013. She was born August 7, 1930, in Solgohachia, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by parents, Homer and Opal Lee McDaniel Bearden; husbands, Lewis Smith and Jim Wilson; grandson, Hunter Smith; and sisters, Marian Lee Turner Yarborough and Nancy Koontz Gray. Laura Lou is survived by one daughter, Elizabeth Dawn Smith Gilmer, sons Daniel Andrew Smith, Jerry Lee Smith, and Timothy Earl Smith; grandchildren, Heath Gilmer, Meredith Gilmer Thompson, Anna Smith Collins, Katie Smith, Shelley Smith, and Laura-Marie Smith; great grandsons, Sam Gilmer and Robert Collins; and her sisters, Annette Warsing of North Little Rock and Jannette Bost of Morrilton. She was a 1948 graduate of Morrilton High School. One of the early supermoms, a working mother of four small children in the early 1950s, she entered and won the Mrs. Arkansas contest. She was always a very active member of her church, serving as a popular youth-group leader in the 1960s. Employers and co-workers valued her enthusiasm, high performance and drive; friends valued her combination of passion and fun spirit. Laura was in real estate for more than 30 years in Little Rock, achieving Lifetime Member status in the Million Dollar Sales Club. She received the Maumelle Citizen of the Year award in 1997 and was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International. She loved studying the Bible, gardening, painting, and traveling; and was very proud of her Bearden family/Solgohachia heritage. Laura was a kind and loving woman, a great friend and wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and mother-in-law. Always there for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, we knew how much she loved us all. Her wonderful personality and beautiful smile will always be remembered. The family would like to express their appreciation for the sacrifice and service of Dawn Gilmer, Laura's daughter and her caregiver for many years, and to the staff of Stonehaven Assisted Living. Memorial Service will be December 11 at First Baptist Church in Morrilton, Arkansas at 2:00 with arrangements by Harris Funeral Home, 501-354-4575. Full obituary and online remembrances - www.HarrisFuneralHomes.net. Family suggests consideration of memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, to the Alzheimers Association at http://goo.gl/GJYd1X.

Laura Lou Bearden Smith Wilson

August 7, 1930 - December 2, 2013