Laren Paul Smart's Obituary
Laren Paul Smart passed away peacefully on October 19, 2025 at the age of 96.
Laren was born to Ray Staley Smart and Delilah Rose Alleman on March 16, 1929 in Montpelier, Idaho.
He was the beloved husband of the late Juliette Belanger, with whom he shared 58 years of marriage.
Laren had a zest for life and could light up a room with his outgoing personality. He loved building and constructed his family home in Lawrence in 1955, a home he owned until his death. For nearly four decades he worked as a defense engineer at Avco and Textron before retiring in the mid-1990s.
All this paled in comparison to his love for his family, particularly towards his wife Juliette who preceded him in death in 2007. He loved being, among other roles, a dad, husband, and Grampa.
Mr. Smart was a decorated military veteran in the United States Air Force, serving from 1948-1952.
Laren leaves behind his children and their spouses, Paul Smart and his wife, Diane, Pat (Smart) LaGraves and her husband, Keith, Kathy Smart (widow of Thomas), Richard Smart and his wife, Kathy, Donna (Smart) Arrajj and her husband, Edmund; his nine grandchildren, Daniel Smart, Meredith Ray (Smart) Cabral, Nathan LaGraves, Julie LaGraves, Lauren (Smart) Fus, Thomas Smart Jr., Kathleen Smart, Ashley Arrajj, and Meghan (Smart) O’Brisky; and six great grandchildren, Xander, Marin, Harrison, Logan, Leah, and Annie.
Those who preceded Mr. Smart in death were his wife, Juliette (Belanger) Smart, son, Thomas Smart and grandson, Matthew Smart.
Laren also leaves behind his sister-in-law, Ariel Smart, who traveled the globe together with him over the past ten years, and also leaves his sister-in-law, Cecile Belanger.
A celebration of life for Laren Smart will be held at 11am on Saturday, December 6 at the Methuen Family Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence Street, Methuen, MA. A private burial will take place at a future date.
In lieu of flowers please make a charitable contribution to a charity of your choice. For directions or send a condolence to Laren’s family, please visit www.MethuenFH.com.
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