Larry Gerald Lashly

Larry Gerald Lashly of Newcastle, CA passed away after a year long battle with cancer in his home. He was 70. He was surrounded by his family and friends during that difficult time. He is survived by His wife and best friend Sandra Lashly, children Phil Bartolomei, Lora Lashly, Joe Bartolomei, Catherine Sheppard, Lisa Lashly and Rick Bartolomei and their families. He is also survived by his sister Virginia Harney and family and brother Bill Lashly and family. He had 8 grandchildren that were a big part of his life.

Larry was born in Redding, CA on June 21, 1940 to Oscar and Ila Lashly. Larry lived in Manton, CA for most of his younger years. During this time he loved to hunt and fish. There were 3 ways you could do it. The right way, the wrong way and Larry’s way. This included Dynamite and Spot lights (not necessarily in that order).After graduating from High School in Redding, CA, he moved to Redwood City, CA and worked as a foreman, building apartment buildings. After a 5 year marriage to Lois of which produced two lovely daughters he got divorced and met Sandra. They got married in 1969 at the Woodside Community Church in Woodside, CA. He took on the difficult task of 4 additional children that he raised as his own. At this time he became involved in the Auction business with his father-in-law. He trained to become an auctioneer by selling all his kids toys back to them. Larry also belonged to the Rotary club where he volunteered to raise money for their causes. He became an honorary Rotarian. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Emerald Hills Elks club. He also loved running and ran the Bay to Breakers with his daughter Lora. During this time Larry and Sandra were also purchasing real estate. Since they were so busy they decided to allow a friend of the family to become a Manny, (Wilson) to the children. He was not afraid to use child labor (3 boys). This taught all of us the value of hard work and to be accountable for your actions. He also took all of the kids on backpacking trips and various other adventures which always included experiencing bears. The family decided to build a cabin located in Angels Camp, CA. Larry was a driving force in the completion of the three story get away. When the auction business was sold he talked Sandra into moving to Idaho for the warm weather and purchased a ranch. Now Larry was close to what he enjoyed the most; hunting, fishing, horse packing and burning stuff. After the first real winter, Sandra realized he might have over exaggerated the warm weather part. They then decided to move back to Redwood City. With the move and no job they continued to buy and sell real estate. After being in the Bay Area and the kids left (no more free labor) they moved to Newcastle. Larry of course bought a house that needed some work. Since bigger is better he got over 7000 square feet of house and 16 acres of land. Not willing to leave well enough alone, he had to rebuild the barn, put in a pond and then add another barn and of course bigger is better. After wearing out one tractor he had to buy a bigger one. Larry also loved horses and had 50 of them, always looking for the ultimate pack horse. He needed to by more property for the horses and something else to burn. He then negotiated a deal on a foreclosure of a 50 acre orchard (lots to burn). Of course the tractor he had was not big enough so he had to rent one larger to clear the land. He even got the fire department with a fly over to come out and see what he was doing. Larry loved to travel via vehicle and he would not stop for much (hope you don’t have to pee). Later he was willing to travel via trains, large boats and large planes (after crashing one in Alaska the bigger the better). He loved to garden and grew some of the best vegetables and herbs. He always enjoyed spinning a tall tale and would tell them first to the kids and then to his grandkids or lying in hunting camp of which he spent over a month a year in. He was known in some camps as ricochet Larry. In all camps, people considered themselves lucky to have him along. He also had a map in his head and collected as many as possible (maps, not his head). Larry was a great friend to many people. As you can see, Larry led a full and colorfully eventful life (still cut short). He cheated life on various occasions ie: plane crash, sliding off the mountain, driving a truck off a cliff, falling off the side of a mountain on a horse and other adventures/misadventures. In the end it was the cancer that he could not beat but not from lack of trying. He was a devout husband, father and mentor to all (if you wanted him to be or not). You could always count on him to have an opinion about what ever was being discussed (serious or humorous). He was an amazing man and will be remembered by all for his strengths and courage. He strived to provide for his family and friends every day of his life. He will be truly missed by many. May you rest in peace for all of time.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you donate to either the Heifer Society or the American Cancer Society. For further information email [email protected]

God Bless

Arrangements under the direction of Chapel of the Hills, Auburn, CA.