Daphne loved music and people. At the age of 18 months, she was diagnosed with flaccid cerebral palsy and severe brain damage. Daphne’s early summers were spent vacationing with family on Kootenay Lake in southeastern British Columbia. She was the inspiration for representatives from sixteen Central Austin Churches who established the first church school classes for mentally retarded / brained-damaged children in Austin in the early 1960’s. The classes were housed in University Presbyterian Church.
Daphne was preceded in death by her grandparents, by her father, Charles W. Larkam, and by her niece, Alexandra Larkam. She is survived by her mother, Beverley Larkam, by her siblings: Elizabeth Larkam of Mill Valley, California, her Austin siblings: Charles and Kristi Larkam and their children Tiffany and Charles III; by Peter and Sandra Larkam, and their children William and his wife Anna and their children (Mason, Preston, Harrison, Charlotte, and Pierson), Matthew, and Andrew; and by John and Alison Larkam and their children Catherine and Stephanie; by residents of Austin State Supported Living Center, and dedicated Hummingbird staff.
The family will hold a private burial service. Memorials may be made in Daphne’s name to Friends of the State Supported Living Center, 2203 West 35th Street, Austin, Texas 78703; University Presbyterian Church, 2203 San Antonio Street, Austin, Texas 78705; Impact Family Church, 2909 W William Cannon Drive, Austin, Texas 78745.
