Where do we start in trying to write about our precious Larry Don Otten? A beloved husband, father, son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, friend? All of the above, and much more. His presence in this world will be sorely missed, and all of our lives will be the duller for his absence, but we rejoice in the knowledge and the blessed assurance that when our dear “Big O” left this earth on January 15, 2022, he went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Praise God, he is young again, with new knees!
Larry was born August 24, 1946, in Amarillo, Tx to Inez Jones Otten and Lloyd Andrew Otten. They later spent several years in Clovis, New Mexico where Lloyd was a partner in the livestock auction and then Phoenix, Arizona, before settling in El Paso where Lloyd started El Paso Livestock Auction, first in the Chamizal area and finally in the Lower Valley. Needless to say, Big O received an early education in the understanding of horses and cattle which served him well all of his life, in business with his father, as a rancher, and as a team roper. A pivotal point in Larry’s life was attending Repperts Auction School in Missouri, after attending UTEP. Upon graduation, he became a “damned good” auctioneer and joined his father at the livestock auction. When the auction closed its doors, Big O started his own company “Larry Otten Auctioneers” which is still in operation, thanks to the hard work of his son-in-law, Gardner Wilcox, and the whole family.
Throughout his years at the Livestock Auction, and beyond, Big O traveled weekly to conduct auctions in Prescott, Az., Wilcox Az,. & Deming, N.M. There were also many charities that benefitted from Larry’s expertise as an auctioneer that included Southwestern Livestock Show and Rodeo, Southern New Mexico State
Fair, Ducks Unlimited, Turkey Federation, Rocky Mt. Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, El Paso County Fair, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the NRA.
Big O had a fierce passion for the attributes of the cowboy and the hunter, and embodied them all and believed in passing that knowledge and tradition down to the younger generation which can be especially attested to by his children, grandchildren, and nephews.
Larry Don, alias Big O, Baby Don, Rockin O, Dapper Don, PaPa O, is preceded in death by his parents , Inez and Lloyd Otten, and survived by his adoring and loving wife, Diane Surratt Otten, daughter Brettney Wilcox (Gardner), son Justin Otten, granddaughters GiGi Wilcox, Savannah Wilcox, sister Shirley Otten Ogle and her sons Bryan Ogle (Katie) and Bryce Ogle (Kelli); sister -in-law Suzie Brown(Butch) niece and nephew April Davis (Troy) and Cody Brown, great nieces and nephews Brock Ogle, Dylan Ogle, Macey Ogle, Brayden Ogle, Nez Ogle, Sam Davis, Brett Davis along with numerous other nieces & family members.
Donations would be appreciated at St. Jude's, M.D. Anderson, Cowboys for Cancer, and any blood services as there is a severe blood shortage.
A funeral service will be held on February 4, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. at Martin Funeral Home West, 128 N. Resler Dr., El Paso, TX 79912.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com for the Otten family.
