Edward "Larry" Loonam

Edward Lawrence “Larry” Loonam passed away early Christmas morning, 2011. Born April 24, 1918 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Larry was a life-long resident and supporter of Houston, Texas. In his family, he was preceded in death by his Irish immigrant parents, Ed Loonam and Catherine McCarthy Loonam, his siblings Mary Margaret Benedix, Dennis “Dagwood” Loonam and Catherine Harris Renfrow, and nephews Larry Harris and Mike Harris.

Larry leaves behind in this world to continue to share his stories his wife of 63 years, Elouise Schmeltz Loonam, son Timothy, daughter Linda and her husband Randall Ladnier, son Charles and his wife Marie, son Peter and his wife Anna, grandchildren Cathy Loonam-Meurer and her husband Sean, Nick Ladnier, Suzie Trigg and her husband Brian, Chris Ladnier and his wife Josie, Stephen Loonam, Kevin Loonam, and Kenneth Loonam, cherished great grandson Jaxson Meurer, sister-in-law Bernadette Loonam, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, and countless others with whom he crossed paths.

Larry’s course was his own: an Irish Catholic, he married a German Protestant, and both continued a lifelong practice of their individual faiths. At different times in his life, Larry was a draftsman, building contractor, amusement park operator, rancher, landlord, demolition contractor, and, most notably, a collector. Having grown up during the Great Depression, he was never one to let go of anything that had a potential use.

Often among his collections of people, animals, and possessions were those that could use some kind of help. He would feed stray animals, and often try to find them a home, especially if he knew of a child that did not have a pet. People he met might be offered a job if in need, and many times Larry’s holiday dinner table included someone who did not have any other family available. He always sought to befriend, and, when traveling, would seek to find any unknown relatives, no matter how distantly removed.

After decades of being known as “Larry”, he embraced a nickname given to him by a boyfriend of his daughter and became “EL”, even preferring his children and grandchildren to call him EL.

Whether remembered as Larry or EL, the stories will always stand out; stories of a boy growing up in a small depression era Houston, the animals always in his life, including Brown Dog and a charolais bull named George, lifelong friends too numerous to list, and many adventures to go with every scar, bruise, and bump. But for those who have heard, no ending was better than “tell Nan Can that Peg Stretch is dead.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the St. Vincent de Paul Capital Improvement Fund or the charity of your choice.