Aug. 13, 1948 – Aug. 11, 2016
Larry succumbed to a long-term illness and passed away in his home surrounded by his family.
Larry was born in Springfield, Minn., to Carl and Audrey (Meiners) Lawrence and grew up in Minneota, Minn., in the ’50s andt ’60s, where he attended grade school and graduated from Minneota High School in the class of 1966. He was the co-captain of the football team in his senior year as well as the student council president. He participated in track where he won many awards for sprinting and relays, including state championships, and was a four-year letterman.
He attended Gen. Beadle State College in Madison, S.D., for a year, and in the middle of the Vietnam conflict went on to serve in the U.S. Navy for four years, attaining the rating of radioman, second class petty officer, which included duty at a tracking station in Ethiopia, where his team tracked Apollo 11 carrying Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon.
After his military obligation was complete, he returned to his hometown of Minneota.
In 1975, Larry met Donna DeSutter, the love of his life. They married in June of 1976 and enjoyed 40 years of marriage together. From this marriage two children were born, Amber and Trevor.
In 1984, Larry took a job with Schwan’s Ice Cream that relocated him to Everett. After a year or so he took an opportunity with the naval base on Whidbey Island, managing the bowling center and restaurant.
In 1990, they settled in Coupeville. He managed bowling centers in Everett (20 lanes) Mount Vernon (24 lanes) and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (32 lanes).
In 1999, Larry acquired Northwest Brewers Supply retailing home-brewing and wine-making supplies and equipment. Larry’s son Trevor joined him in 2009 and then he retired at 67, turning the business over to Trevor.
Larry made friends young and old wherever he went, and seemed to attract some very interesting and notable people. He enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening, watching baseball and football, barbecuing, chess, card games, horseshoes and, of course, brewing beer.
He is preceded in death by his parents Carl and Audrey Lawrence and father-in-law George DeSutter. His survivors include his loving wife Donna of 40 years; daughter Amber (Ryan) Devine and two granddaughters, Callie and Violet of Coupeville; son Trevor (Ami) Lawrence and two grandsons, Evan and Clive of Mount Vernon; sister Sharilynn and husband Les Stroklund of Silver Lake, Minn.; and brother Bradley and friend Kit of Carefree, Ariz.
Memorial services for Larry will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, at the family’s community center, Sierra Country Club, located at 2685 San Juan St., Coupeville, WA 98239. Responses can be communicated to the home address, 633 El Mirador, Coupeville, WA 98239 or donna@whidbey.us
