Sara Child Larimore

Sara Child Larimore, 85, of Little Rock, Arkansas, peacefully departed this life on Sunday morning, February 12, 2023, after a lengthy illness.

The youngest of seven children, Sara was born on November 1, 1937, in Jonesboro to Dr. Frederick and Marian Mason Child.  She attended Holy Angels Convent School in Jonesboro, graduating as valedictorian in 1955.  Moving back home to Blytheville, she worked as a secretary at Blytheville Air Force Base.  She later met the love of her life, Samuel R. Larimore of Newport, and they were married on October 1, 1959.  Sara and Sam made their home in Blytheville, and their marriage was blessed with three children, Laura, Gregory, and Christopher.

Sam’s career as a salesman moved the family to Henderson, Kentucky in 1967.  In 1970, they returned to Blytheville, where Sam established his own business, Larimore Crop Supply. Sara and Sam worked together in the new company, with Sara managing the office.

In 1994, they sold the business and in retirement traveled extensively, including many summer vacations with extended family on the Gulf Coast.  Sara and Sam loved the beach so much that they eventually moved to Orange Beach, Alabama in 2001.  In 2007, Sara and Sam returned to Little Rock to be closer to their grandchildren.  They later moved to Fox Ridge Senior Living in Little Rock in 2017.   Although Sam passed away shortly thereafter, Sara remained at Fox Ridge where she developed a whole new set of friends.

In addition to traveling, Sara enjoyed cooking, birdwatching, puzzles, and most importantly her four grandchildren. A life-long Catholic, she was very active in her home parish of Immaculate Conception Church of Blytheville, serving as a lector, eucharistic minister, and in the Altar Society.  She later served in the same roles at St. Thomas by the Sea Catholic Church in Orange Beach.  After moving to Little Rock, she was a parishioner at Christ the King Catholic Church.

In addition to her husband Sam, Sara was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Barbara (Edwin) Bach, Rosemary Child, Patricia (Berry) Allen, Carolyn (Fred) Scheben, Fred Child, and Marguerite (Sam) Harris.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Laura (Roger) Williams of Little Rock; sons Gregory (Jena Thomas) Larimore of Elberta, Alabama, and Christopher (Aki) Larimore of Tokyo, Japan; grandchildren Matthew Williams of Longmont, Colorado, Ethan Williams of Madison, Wisconsin, Hana Larimore and Noah Larimore of Tokyo; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to the staff of Lakewood Nursing and Rehab, Gentiva Hospice, and the E4 unit at UAMS for the excellent care she received at the end of her life.

Visitation will be from 2:00 to 3:00 pm, followed by a rosary, on Monday, February 20, at Smith Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Court, Little Rock.  A graveside service and burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery in Blytheville at a later date.