Lary Loyd Larson

Born May 16, 1935 to Loyd and Mildred Larson in Arcadia, Nebraska. Lary passed away in Auburn, California on September 22, 2014 at the age of 79. Survived by his wife of 60 years, and the love of his life, Patricia, daughter Lynn (Ed), son Mike (Janet), brother Dennis (Sandra), and grandchildren Chris Owen (Nicole), Scott Owen (Melissa), Andrea Larson, Kyle Larson (Katelyn), Cedric Owen, Tristan Owen, Nathan Owen, Aidan Owen, and Peyton Owen. Lary moved from Nebraska at an early age with his parents to Clarksburg, California, before eventually settling in Northeastern California at Herlong, home of the Sierra Army Depot. Since there was no high school in Herlong, Lary graduated 35 miles away from Lassen High School in Susanville, class of 1953. Unbelievable by today’s standards, Lary was also the school bus driver for the daily 70 mile round trip. After marrying Patty on February 24, 1954 Lary worked several different jobs at the Sierra Army Depot, while also attending Lassen Community College. In 1960 Lary moved his family to Sacramento, where he began a long career as a civilian worker at Mather Air Force Base. In 1969 Lary and family moved to Elk Grove, where they lived until 1978. At the age of 50, Lary retired in 1985 as the director of the Mather AFB Motor Pool Department. By that time Lary and Patty were living in Alta, California in a house Lary built himself. Turning into post retirement snowbirds Lary and Patty purchased property in Yuma, Arizona where they spent winters, while continuing to live summers in Alta. In 2005 they sold their houses in Alta and Yuma, and moved permanently into a new home in Bullhead City, Arizona. Recently Lary and Patty expressed a desire to move back to Northern California to be near family, and he was able to do that before passing. Lary was known as a master mechanic, fabricator, and innovator who could always come up with a better idea. An early project was building a backyard ferris wheel for Lynn and Mike, which was the envy of all the other neighborhood kids. He built a push car for Mike that passed down through generations. Three creative mini-bikes followed. He rebuilt several wrecked cars and turned them into like-new family cars. He also restored both a 1940’s vintage Ford and Packard. Lary enjoyed his pets, boating and water skiing (even building his own ski boat), camping, fishing, hunting, trap shooting, travelling, reading history books, cooking, entertaining family and friends at get together’s, football, basketball, Hot Rod Magazine, and auto racing. He drag raced his ‘55 Chevy in his younger days. From there Lary’s racing legacy passed to grandson Kyle, now a NASCAR Sprint Cup regular, whom Lary was more than eager to tell others about. Also, with great pride his passion for building things was passed on to his other grand children. He loved them all dearly and was proud of each one‘s special accomplishments. Over his lifetime Lary was also active in the 20/30 Club and Elks Lodge. Lary’s wit, dry sense of humor, practical jokes, smarts, and role model qualities will be missed by those lucky enough to have known and loved him. He will be in our hearts and memories forever. Per his request, no services will be held. In memory of Lary, contributions can be made to the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation for Cancer Research.