Larry Richard Garrison

Larry was born on January 10, 1951, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Robert and Virginia Garrison. Larry was married to his loving wife Sheila (Murry) for 52 years.

Larry grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas until the family moved to Grandview, Missouri, where Larry graduated from Grandview High School in 1969. After high school, Larry attended the University of Central Missouri at Warrensburg and in 1973 graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. In 1982, Larry graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a Master of Science in Accounting, and in May 1986 Larry received his Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

After passing the CPA examination, Larry worked in public and private accounting for nine years, but teaching had been on his mind since he was a Graduate Assistant during his advanced degree years in college. Larry returned to UMKC to start a 30-year teaching career in the Department of Accounting at the Henry W. Bloch of Management. During this time at UMKC he received multiple teaching awards including the Elmer F. Pierson for Outstanding Teaching, Missouri Society of CPAs Outstanding Educator of the Year, Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Governor's Award for Excellence in Education. He also served as president of the North American Accounting Society and the Missouri Association of Account Educators. Prior to retiring as emeritus faculty, Larry was named a Helen Kemper/Missouri Professor in Accountancy. Larry’s teaching style was to add on to class instruction by sharing real life experiences he had gathered from his public and private accounting years, and he usually added lighthearted stories for the students. Larry always had an open door for his students.

Larry enjoyed spending time with his wife Sheila and their beloved dogs, Katie and Sadie. Larry thoroughly enjoyed research into his family genealogy, and this research uncovered he was a member of the Mayflower Society and of the Sons of the Revolution. Larry also enjoyed watching vintage sports car racing and traveled with Sheila to watch these races.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Sheila, his brothers, Robert II (Christine) and Gregg (Gina), his three nieces and their children.

Donations are suggested to KC Hospice or a charity of your choice.

A visitation for Larry will begin at 1:30pm, followed by his celebration of life service at 2:00pm on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at McGilley State Line Chapel with a reception to follow the service at the funeral home. A private family inurnment will take place at a later date.