Larry Keith Lau, a Broker/Owner of Coldwell Banker Fleming-Lau Realty of Fort Smith, died May 18,2018.  He was 86.  He was born in Fort Smith to the late O.F. (Shorty) Lau and Madge (Kirk) Lau.  Larry graduated from Fort Smith High School (Northside), Fort Smith Community College (UAFS) and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, majoring in Personnel Management from the University of Arkansas in 1958.  He loved that his name was carved in the campus Senior Walk.  Larry joined the U.S. Air Force after college.  He was an electrical engineer of B-52 bombers and B-29 bombers, he traveled all over the United States and Alaska repairing them.

After leaving the Air Force, Larry obtained his real estate license and had a long and successful career in both Arkansas and Oklahoma.

He first joined Bridges Realty as a salesperson, later becoming a managing partner.  As time went by, he became involved in home building and land development and was the guiding force behind Eastgate Subdivision, the Village Apartments, and the Timbers Apartments.  He also built many single-family homes.

In 1983, Larry joined Jerry Fleming at Coldwell Banker Fleming Realty and later became a partner.  Later Larry became Principal Broker and owner of Coldwell Banker Fleming-Lau Realty and never truly retired.

During Larry's multi-decade real estate career, he was President of the Fort Smith Board of Realtors,  a 50 year member of the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders and served as President,  an instructor of a real estate class at Westark Community College, a CCIM Candidate,  Arkansas Realtors Association District 3 Vice President, Chairman and Member of the Arkansas Realtors Association Risk Reduction Committee for over 30 years, member of the Arkansas Realtors Association Professional Standards Committee, and member of the National Association of Realtors Conventional Finance Committee 15 years.  Larry Lau was well known and admired by Realtors across the United States.

Larry was honored with the Arkansas Realtors Association Distinguished Service Award in 2006 for exceptional and beyond the call of duty service from a member.   He was also awarded the National Association of Realtors Realtor Emeritus Award for length of service to the Local, State and National Associations of Realtors.

Early in his career, Larry was active in many Fort Smith organizations including the Fort Smith JC's and the Advisory Council of Sparks Hospital.

Larry was an active member of Cavanaugh Free Will Baptist Church.  He loved assisting with the church Food Bank.

Fishing was Larry's great passion.  He was a founding member of the Lunkers and Liars Fishing Club for many years. The club consisted of people connected to all aspects of the real estate industry.

Larry was a member and enjoyed the fellowship of the Leads Club, consisting of members of the business community, which met on Tuesday mornings for breakfast meetings.

Larry was also a member of the Nifty Fifties, High School Class of 1950, meeting monthly to visit and catch up on class news.

Larry loved sports, especially University of Arkansas football, basketball and baseball.  He was a member of the University of Arkansas Razorback Foundation for more than 30 years.  He was thrilled that he and Sharla got to attend the Final Four in 1994 to watch the Razorbacks win.  They attended many games for his pro-team, the Dallas Cowboys. Larry was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and would listen on the radio and watch on television at the same time so he wouldn't miss any details of their games.

In addition to his parents, Larry was preceded in death by three sisters, Elise Graham, Geraldine Chrip, Frankie Gill, his brother-in-law Jerry Aldridge and by the Mother of his children, Patricia.

Larry is survived by his wife of 30 years, Sharla; one daughter, Karen Lau Kimbriel and husband William of Mountain Home, AR; two sons, Keith Lau and wife Maria of Fort Smith, and James "Andy" Lau of Fort Smith; seven grandchildren:  Hilary Lau, Emily Lau, Dylan Kimbriel, Brandon Lau, Brittany Howard and husband Jason, Andrea Lau, Carlee Blount and husband Josh; 8 great-grandchildren:  Matthew, Sara, Brison, Echo, Gipsy, Blane, Lilly and Loulu; sister-in-law, Barbara Aldridge; niece and nephew, Gina Williams and Jody Aldridge; his dear friend and loyal/dedicated administrative assistant, Rosemary Jedlicka; and his friends/office staff:  Vicki Route, Carie Holloway, Jennifer Lamb, Sam Berry, Glee Cosner, James "Butch" Snow, Mary Davis, Leslie White, Melanie Rogers, Chase Tipton, Michelle Tennant, Jan Ford and Joan Fox.

A special thank you to Barbara Hambright, Martha Tracy and the Holloway Family, his caregivers, and to Shari Kincade, R.N.  and  Shelby Stephens of Mercy Hospice.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, May 22nd, at Cavanaugh Free Will Baptist Church in Fort Smith. Burial, with military honors, will be at 1:00 P.M. at Fort Smith National Cemetery, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home and Flower Shop in Charleston.

Pallbearers will be Jerry Fleming, Doyle Yates, Jonathan Moore, Ken Adams, Ron Stinchcomb, Ken Gill and Mike McCaig.

The family will visit with friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Monday, May 21st,  at Cavanaugh Free Will Baptist Church in Fort Smith.

Memorials to Cavanaugh Free Will Baptist Church Building Fund, 2825 Grinnell Avenue, Fort Smith, AR  72908 or Mercy Hospice, 3300 70 ^th Street, Fort Smith, AR  72903.

To view the video tribute, please visit http://videos.lifetributes.com/895271 .

To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com.