April 1, 1935 – July 23, 2021
Larry Crouser passed away peacefully on July 23, in Gresham, Oregon. Born to Harvey and Alta Crouser, in the small town of Imbler in northeast Oregon on April 13, 1935. At the end of that same year on a cold winter day, the family moved to Latourell in the Columbia Gorge, and it was there as a young boy tagging behind his older brother Ray, exploring the Latourell slough that his joy of life began. Larry was the third of four children, and in 1940 the family moved to east Portland where Larry grew up and later attended Gresham High School. Larry loved sports, playing football, basketball, and track. He broke the school record in the javelin his senior year and finished second at the state meet. In 1953, after graduating high school, Larry enlisted in the Army. He was stationed in Korea where he continued to excel in the javelin competing in military track meets. Corporal Larry Crouser was honorably discharged from the Army in 1956. That same year, he met the love of his life, Marie Haggstrom, who had immigrated from Sweden seven years earlier. They were married on March 9, 1957. The following year he started as a messenger for Title and Trust, which later became Ticor Title. Larry worked his way up, becoming the State Manager and retired after 35 years in the industry. During that time, Larry and Marie had three sons; Mitch, Dean, and Brian. Larry loved spending time playing sports with his boys – especially track and field. He built a shot put pit in their back yard and neighbors watched apprehensively as shot puts, discus, and javelins flew through the air as the boys practiced. Larry loved golf and played weekly with his friends. Father and sons had a golf match tradition played every Thanksgiving for over 30 years come rain, sideways rain, sleet, east wind, and on rare occasion – sunshine. Their sons married, had families, and remained in the Gresham area, and in their later years there was nothing Larry and Marie enjoyed more than spending lots of time with their six grandchildren. It was a feeling the grandchildren reciprocated wholeheartedly. He was always the shoulder you could lean on and his sage advice was always delivered with humor and kindness. Larry is deeply loved and is survived by his wife Marie; son Mitch, his wife Lisa, and their two sons Ryan and Matt; son Dean, his wife Molly, and their son Sam and daughter Haley; son Brian and his two sons Cory and Cody; sister Geraldean Brooks, and brother Ken. He was preceded in death by his brother Ray. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinsons Foundation at www.Parkinsons.org (or 1-800-473-4636) as a tribute gift in memory of Larry Crouser.
