Byron A. Lasater III

November 9, 1939 - November 27, 2019

Byron A. Lasater, III, passed triumphantly thru death to Life Everlasting on the 27th of November, 2019, at the age of 80 years at his home in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Byron served many hears as Director of Franklin County Department of Human Services, striving to do as much as he could to help the least fortunate in our area. Byron was born in Lawton, Oklahoma on the 9th of November 1939. He attended Oklahoma State University and became on of the first football coaches in integrated schools. He coach football, boxing, and wrestling, often telling the story of how he went a quarter of a round with a young boxer named Cassius Clay (aka Muhammad Ali). He left coaching to start a new life in Cecil, Arkansas, and while there he established the Western Arkansas County Youth Shelter to help kids find an escape from abusive homes. He helped to create the Cecil Rural Fire Department, and was one of the first Fire Chiefs for that community. He was a member of the Ozark First Christian Church, eventually fulfilling a lifelong calling to ministry by becoming an ordained elder in the Disciples of Christ denomination. He spent many months in New Orleans helping provide food and shelter for all those devastated by Hurricane Katrina. This mission work was one of his proudest moments. He will be forever remembered by his beloved wife, Lois Lasater of Fort Smith; his three sons he was extremely proud of, Byron A. Lasater, IV and his wife Teresa of Ozark, Arkansas, Blake A. Lasater an his wife Marilou of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and Michael Kent Lasater and his wife Danielle of Ledyard, Connecticut; a cherished daughter he claimed as his own, Balee Bree of Fort Smith; a step-daughter, Lindsey Harp, and a dear mother-in-law, Betty Crossno of Fort Smith; his precious grandchildren, Byron "Quint" Lasater, V, Jessica Lasater Smith, Brook Lasater, Savannah Lasater, Gracie Lasater, Creek Harp, and Ella Bree. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Byron A. Lasater, Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Lasater, and a sister, Bertha Ann Lasater. Byron's wishes were that no memorial be held, but he leaves behind a wonderful example of service to the least fortunate, often standing in WalMart or some other store at Christmas to hand people in need some money; and so we ask in lieu of flowers or memorials that you take the time to help someone in need this Christmas to remember him.