July 27, 1951 July 26, 2024
Larry LaRoy Willis was born to Katherine Slade Willis and Hugo LaRoy Willis on July 27, 1951. He was the 4th child and the first son. The family lived in Silverton, Colorado, where his father was owner of an independent trucking business servicing the mining industry still operating within the San Juan County area. Larry was born just in time to join the family moving to 1020 Reese Street, which they would call home for the next 50 years. His father had purchased the old school building in the “ghost town” Eureka and moved it on a truck from Eureka to Silverton. It was a grand spectacle the day the truck bearing the building made its way slowly down Main Street to the prepared lot on Reese Street.
Larry was a restless spirit with an energetic soul. When he was five years old, he concocted a scheme to make money by selling raffle tickets to the neighbors. The prize he offered was his newborn sister, Lynne. He and brother Robby loaded little sister Vicki in a wagon and sold many tickets. Their mother was horrified but the neighbors refused refunds. He loved roaming the mountains and spent many happy days with his siblings hiking and exploring. He rode with his dad hauling the ore from the small working mines in the area. He declared to all that he was going to be a truck driver.
School was not Larry’s idea of fun, but basketball, baseball and his family kept him going. He dated and subsequently married a hometown girl, Cindy Tookey, who inspired a significant difference in his grades his last two years of high school. Larry was drafted into the U.S. Army shortly after graduating and spent the bulk of his service time in Okinawa, Japan. Post-service, he settled in Farmington, New Mexico, where he worked in the oil and gas industry. He was the very proud father of three beautiful, accomplished daughters: Kimberly Kline of Denver, CO, Cristie Fisher of Norman OK, Stacey Willis-Barnes of Brighton, CO and three grandchildren: Avery Bays, Addison Barnes and Aiden Barnes.
When he was 32 years old, he was injured in a mining accident near Silverton and began a life-long journey of surgeries and pain management. His marriage failed. He never, however, lost the restless seeking spirit that pushed him. He learned sales craft and worked in the computer sales business. He took photography classes and took thousands of pictures. He loved self-developing and printing his favorites. Larry remained an ardently vocal Bronco’s fan and sports TV filled much of his time. He was a prodigious reader who ingested every book he could get his hands on about World War II. He would vociferously defend his opinions even if he was proven wrong. He loved a battle of wills and he gave no quarter. Larry never gave up; he just got louder.
Larry lost his final battle to live one day before his 73rd birthday in Denver, CO. He will be missed by his brother, Robert Willis of Humboldt, Arizona, his sisters: Patricia Stevens of Williamsport, PA, Donna Tookey of Jonesborough, TN, Vicki Morris of Durango, CO, Lynne Peck of Springfield, VA and Jean Willis- Brown of Arvada, CO., and numerous nieces and nephews. He has joyfully joined his mother and father, and two sisters, Shirley Carter of Moab, Utah and Elaine Gilliland of Bowring, Oklahoma.
A small celebration of Larry’s life will be held the Hillside Cemetery at 10:30 am in Silverton, CO, on July 27th, 2025.
