Larry Lee Odekirk

“I’m grateful to all who are here – my family appreciate you coming and every kindness you show them.

My life has been one of many wonderful blessings, but the greatest is family and friends. I love my family and I love my friends. I was given a gift of medicine – working with patients. It taught me a lot. I learned a lot and I hope I’ve helped many along the way. On a personal basis I admit many mistakes in my life – things I could have done better and doing things I shouldn’t have done – perhaps we could all say that. I believe with all my heart we are saved by Grace not deeds of commission and omission. At times in my life I felt like such a hypocrite – loving the Lord with all my heart and all my soul, while acting otherwise in my daily walk. Life’s journey is not always an easy one, but with God’s Love and Grace we can all do a better job. I believe when you are listening to these words I’ll be in the Lord’s presence. Thank you for being here.”

- --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- - --- -

Larry’s self-written eulogy is on the back of a paper with the date of April 2006, so it’s safe to say he wrote this almost two decades before his passing. It just speaks to the man we all knew and loved: a planner, a pragmatist, and someone who showed his love through acts of service. The world is quieter without his presence, but we know he is safe in God’s arms, surrounded by the family and friends he has missed.

Upon reading his eulogy, I was struck by how consistent his heart was throughout his life. I found a letter from 1958 nearly identical in spirit to what he wrote for us above. He felt that he was imperfect, but he loved deeply, and he was a man of God. What more could anyone ask for? Throughout my time knowing and loving him, I found that he held strongly to his values but always left space to learn and listen, even if it took time. He went out of his way to help everyone who asked and paid attention to what mattered to them, even if he didn’t understand it. Most of all, he loved more deeply than I think most of us could even imagine.

Larry is survived by his wife Geraldine, his son Todd, and his granddaughters Makala and Malia. He was preceded in death by his son Thomas Bradford. Among many more cherished family, he is also survived by his family of friends. I am certain that collectively, we have an abundance of stories from our times with him. Times of discussion, laughter, and overflowing joy. I think he would want us to share those memories and focus on them now, even while our hearts long for his presence. Please leave your memories and pictures here to celebrate and remember him and the wonderful life he shared with us all.