I first met Jeff when we moved next door to the Large's in about 1970. I was in seventh or eighth grade, Jeff was a couple of grades ahead of me. We played football in the Large's front yard, played basketball in their driveway, practiced with throwing knives at the telephone pole in their backyard and spent countless hours listening to music and talking about girls. Jeff gave me my first driving lesson in one of their cars but the lesson ended when I managed to drive through their front hedge. Mrs. Large was not happy.

We later became roommates at the University of Texas where our grades proved we still spent too much time talking about girls and music. Our cross country trips to San Diego to visit his cousins and side trips to Disneyland seemed pretty epic at the time and only add to the countless memories of my best friend.

Jeff was truly one in a million and I'm better for having known him.

My deepest condolencess to his family.

 I am so sorry to hear about Coach large. I had the chance to work with him at Salado. He was always the gentleman and very professional. He went out of his way to help children and his colleagues.  I last saw him in new Braunfels where he was playing in a band with his banjo. We got to talk briefly. I did not realize he was gone until earlier today. I’m so sorry for the loss. God be with his family 

I had the pleasure of calling Jeff a colleague and a friend.  We met when he became principal of Salinas Elementary.  During his time at Salinas Elementary, I worked closely with him as the campus RtI Facilitator and eventually the assistant principal.  

There are so many memories I have with Jeff.  Some of my favorites include the time we spent eating lunch together.  Jeff was very good at making sure we took every day to sit down and eat lunch together.  Looking back on this, spending this time at lunch was an important time for us.  It was time we spent just talking.  We had conversations about his family and the love he had for his wife, Lynda, his children, grandchildren and his dogs.  We talked about how proud he was of his family, including his siblings, his adventures as a teenager - living in San Antonio, playing football, and his college days.  He shared the joy he had for music and fixing up his jeep, and the dream home he wanted to share with his family, a log cabin.  Through these conversations, I learned so much about Jeff and he taught me so much more about life.  

He was a man of many talents, who was not only humble but also had great character.  One of his best character traits was the patience and compassion he had for the people in his life – not only his family, but also his friends, colleagues, teachers, and students.  It was nothing for him to stop what he was doing to help – whether that be to fix a student’s pair of glasses or a colleague’s car.  After he retired, he even took time one morning to take my daughter to work when her car battery wasn’t working.  I had to be in a meeting at school and he did not hesitate to help her out.  He also possessed the innate ability to make everyone feel important and it is my hope he knew how important he was and how he touched the lives of so many people.  

Mr. Large was a man with a big heart and he will always hold a special place in my heart.


I grew up listening to Jeff play banjo with my dad, Jackie Winkler, and the American Tradition.  Many of my favorite memories as a child have their music in the background.  I don't know many banjo players but I'm almost positive none could beat Jeff!  How can fingers move that fast!  He was a good man and I'll bet my Granny has him playing for them right now in Heaven!  My love and prayers go out to his family (heart).  

Dear Lynda,  
We probably met Jeff briefly once when you came home to Mt. Sterling, so we didn't know him.  However, we know that you loved him and you had a good life together!  We wish you comfort, strength, and peace.  Even though you are strong and capable, the nights will be long and  the adjustments will be difficult and take time. The Lord will be with you.  We wish we could hug and hold you! We  love and admire you!  Rich and Glenna Boyce

Jeff was my principal for some of the years I spent at Salinas Elementary. My most vivid memory is how he managed to make the staff meetings more bearable (sorry to all the principals out there who think their meetings are fun!) He would always share a funny anecdote or joke to make us all laugh.
Thank you, Jeff, I'm sure you have them in stitches up there.

I had the honor of meeting Mr.Large when he was principal at Salinas elementary.  He loved the students ,staff an all of us substitutes! He made us all feel the love of family and teamwork.. Whether cooking a meal and serving it with his big smile, baking star shaped cookies during testing or sharing his love of music or astronomy, he did it " Large style"! With love and excellence. He didn't just share his faith in Christ with words, he lived it showing the love of God.  Anyone, that had the  pleasure of knowing him, truly lived a little bit larger.  
Mr.Large will be dearly missed. God bless and keep you. 

I first met Jeff when I started at Judson ISD and he was my Assistant Principal at Ed Franz.  He was always very kind and helpful.  Later after many years his lovely wife Lynda came to Copperfield and he and I started working with telescopes at Science night and he shared his great love of science and astronomy with me.   He fostered my love of space and helped me choose my telescope and every time I enjoy my telescope I think of him and standing outside in the cold and his sharing his love of the stars and planets and tips for sharing that love with the kids.  I will never forget his smile and laughter and love of life.  



It was the summer of 2011 and I received a call that I would be the Assistant Principal at Salinas Elementary.  That very same day I received a call from the newly named principal, Jeff Large.  The summer of 2011 our journey as administrators began .  Little did I know that day, our lives would be connected.   Jeff was a humble man and one that often would say, "How about that...."   Boy did he have the stories about his vast experiences in schools and through every story I learned more and more about this man and the impact he had on others.  Jeff loved people!    He had a heart of gold and built relationships with every person he met.    He often times asked me to just "sit down" and lets talk.  The talks we had often surrounded his family - the love of his life Lynda and how they camped, traveled and cooked.  Each week (Thursdays if I remember correctly), he took his kids out to dinner. This was a time to reconnect with the ones he loved most.  His brother - he loved telling stories about his brother being a Game Warden and even invited him to be a part of our Peace Officers Day.  Family - this is what Jeff created with all that encountered him.   Our first year together he insisted we carol around the school while he played his banjo and we all sang...I tried to tell him I wasn't a "singer" but he insisted.  I had to include this picture as this was our first Christmas card at Salinas that year - 2011.  A few years later our paths parted as I moved on to be principal although our connection never ended.  I had him on "speed dial" from my new office just to ask his advice on things and he never wavered.   Jeff and I shared the same birthday...November 8th and each year we would race each other to see who would tell the other Happy Birthday first...this year...I won.  Jeff - we know you are tossing that baseball up in the air, playing your banjo and singing with the angels...until we meet you again! 



     When I say Mr. Large changed my life, it is not an exaggeration. I first met Mr. Large when he was an interim principal finishing up a school year. I was a first year, third grade teacher. That year saw state wide lay-offs, and Mr. Large was the person who got to tell me the bad news. I was devastated, and hadn't even made it back to my classroom when he came hurrying after me to check on me.
     During the summer, two days before teachers were to report back, I got  a call from him. He was at a new school and wanted me to interview. I was looking for jobs in middle schools, but what he offered was a consideration for a Pre-K position. I couldn't say no to any kind of employment, so I went in and interviewed. Two weeks later, he called me in his office and asked what I thought about early childhood. I LOVED it. He told me that he had a different position available, but thought I was a pre-K teacher and just didn't know it. This was the power of Mr. Large. His talent was seeing the talents in others and letting them shine. His relentless kindness and gentleness made him trustworthy. When he called me to interview, he told me I was going to do great, just to try. I can't think of many people that can lay off a person, only to have her follow him to another school. 
     I worked with Mr. Large for another three years. He treated every person at the school with consideration, respect, and humor. He took the business of education seriously, but never took himself too seriously. The amount of cutting up he tolerated from me in staff meetings is remarkable. 
     There was another time I was in Mr. Large's office, facing the decision to move grade levels. As my boss, he could've just told me what was going to happen, and leave it at that. Instead, he empowered me with the choice. He told me to go home, pray about it, and tell him in three days. To honor the power of prayer in a professional's life was a beautiful example to me. I won't forget it. 
     

Every time we eat barbecue we will think of Jeff and all the wonderful meals we had with him.  No one could smoke and cook a better brisket.

He was the father of our two wonderful grandchildren,  Jeffrey and Leslie , and the grandfather of our three beautiful great grandchildren, Lindsey, Ryan and Brooklyn.  We are thankful for the Christian values that he and Lorrie taught them
Jeff was always ready to give us a helping hand when we needed one.  Who could ever forget the years we stayed up until two o'clock in the morning, night after night, cutting out wooden decorations for Lorrie to paint and sell so they could have extra money for Christmas.
He was not only a good father but he was a great vice principal and principal in the Judson I S D.  

We will never forget some of our marathon trips we had with Jeff.  He planned all our vacation trips and we usually followed him in our car. On one such trip we drove from San Antonio to Florida stopping only for gas and rest rooms on our way to Disney World.  Never a dull moment.

We know that Jeff is sitting at the feet of Jesus playing Blue Grass music on his banjo.  We loved him with all our heart and will always miss him

     Papa and Grandma 

I know we are all so very sorry to hear of your loss at Marion Animal Hospital.   Prayers for your family.

I made some good music with this good man and always enjoyed his company. In addition to being a superb musician, he was always fun to hang out with, always in good spirits and always seeking to improve his musicianship. I'll miss him terribly.
Here's a photo of one of the bands, The Dim Lights. With Tim Wilson, Bob Pool, Robert Griffith, me and Jeff.



I am one of Jeff’s neighbors in the Eden Ranch area, I met Jeff and his Family as they began to clear the acreage for his future log cabin. 
He was very passionate on his ideas and dreams for the property, I enjoyed visiting with him and sharing contacts in the area to help him with the process. 
Jeff always had a smile and would stop his work to chat and catch up  

 The short time I knew Jeff, I truly appreciated his stories and looked forward to having a great neighbor.

My Condolences to the Family on your loss, we will keep you in our prayers 


Jeff was an amazing grandpa to my kids and Jeffrey the kids and I have more memories than we could ever share. He helped us show them things that are really important, like spending time with family and making memories rather than "stuff".  He always wanted to take the kids camping and on road trips and they loved it. Never once did I tell them we were all going camping and they complained. In fact the times they were complaining it was because we told them no we can't go camping on Pop's land tonight. For Lindsey's birthday this past October her request was to go camping and even though it rained like crazy the whole week prior to the night we had planned to go (so original plans had been flooded out) Jeff made new arrangements and plans to make sure she got what she wanted. She told me just this past week how happy she was that Pop let her go camping for her birthday. He had the patience of a saint, especially with Ryan, and never got frustrated at all of his energy but always praised him for the things that he was good at and was already planning his sports career. He was so excited that the kids were starting to have an interest in playing banjo and guitar and couldn't wait to teach them. Jeff was such a good man in many ways but I am so glad that my kids had time to make so many memories with " Pop with Pollie and Emma".

Here's Jeff and his banjo, with American Tradition ca. 1983

My name is Johnny Wood, owner of Wood & Log Homes.  When I listened to the voicemail Linda left me 
Sunday morning of Jeff's passing, I must say I was very shocked! When I first met Jeff and Linda and we visited about building the log home they (I think Jeff mainly) had dreamed about for 16 years, it was one of those meetings where I felt this is one of those relationships that is going to be very special that I truly want to work with these people! Jeff and I had the opportunity to meet and talk several more times on the phone.  Every time we would meet his excitement grew (sometimes even a little giddy) and my excitement grew in knowing I was going to be working with them.  I'm going to miss out getting to know Jeff better, but feel extremely blessed to have known him for the period of time I did.  Had the opportunity to meet Jeffrey and it was very obvious the close relationship Jeff had with his son. Even though I knew Jeff for a short period of time, I feel like we shared a commonality of faith and we were on the way to a great friendship.  As Billy Graham said " Some day you will read that Jeff Large is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I ever was. I will have just changed my address.  I will have gone into the presence of God."  

Jeff was one of my dearest and closest friends for the past 46 years or so.  He was the best banjo player I ever knew who didn't make a living doing it (I know or have known most of the great ones!)   We played together with the Winkler brothers and Joe Nixon in a band called American Tradition, made many memories together.  Jeff went with me, I believe in 2012, to a gathering of great banjos and banjo players in east Tennessee.     He was the absolute master of the grill and smoker, and I enjoyed the fruits of his talents on numerous occasions.   

I know where Jeff is now, so I don't grieve for him so much as his family and legions of people who knew, loved and admired this talented,  gentle and Godly man.   Until we meet again, my brother, I will miss you.

I originally  met Jeff Large at Kitty Hawk Middle School.  He was my assistant principal.  He was kind, soft-spoken, and caring.  He was also a very talented musician.  The first time I heard him play the banjo, I was blown away!!  Occasionally, my husband and I would attend a "gig" that Jeff and his band played.  Then, we would visit afterwards.  Jeff adored his wife and his kids, and he also loved teaching and being a principal.  He will be truly missed!!

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Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Betty Large.  He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Lynda Large; his children Jeffrey James Large, Jr. (Erica), and Leslie Marie Brignac (Kalib); his step-children, McKenzie M. Connor (Justin) and Everett Mecham; his grandchildren, Lindsey, Ryan, Brooklyn, Jaxon, Kylar, Kynlee, Kambri, and Kaizley; his siblings, Sherry Valentine (Bill), Bernie Large, Debby Large (Mark Miller), and Tracy Large (Kara); His 1st Wife, Lorrie Housley (Kurt); His Miniature Schnauzers, Pollie and Emma; and numerous nieces and nephews.

OBITUARY

Jeffrey James Large

November 8, 1953 – November 29, 2018

Sunset Memorial Park & Funeral Home

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