Larry Durrence was born on September 5, 1962, in Miami, Florida. He was the son of James Durrence and Sylvia Deen Wagner, and the step-son of Robert Wagner. He grew up alongside his sister, Linda Durrence, and his brothers, Derell Durrence and Jimmie Durrence, along with Jimmie's wife, Nancy, who became a cherished part of the family.

If you knew Larry, you know there wasn't much middle ground. You either loved him or you hated him. There really wasn't an in-between, and Larry was perfectly okay with that. In his younger years, Larry was a bit of a menace to society. He lived life his own way, followed his own rules, and usually had a sarcastic comment ready for any situation. But over the years, the titles he wore most proudly weren't fisherman, cook, handyman, pilot, or professional troublemaker. They were Dad, Granddaddy, Grandad-o, and Pappy.

Larry loved being a dad. He was incredibly proud of his sons, Jonathan and Michael. No matter how old they got, Larry never stopped being their dad, offering advice, giving them a hard time, and always being there when they needed him. He also carried in his heart the memory of his son, Christopher, who spent only a few sweet days on this earth but remained his son every day of Larry's life. Larry was also blessed with another son, Marcus Fisher, who proudly serves in the United States Air Force. Though life gave them only limited time together, Larry loved him deeply and was proud to call him his son. Family meant everything to Larry, and Marcus always held a special place in his heart. He also gained a daughter-in-law, Amber, who quickly became one of his favorite people to pick on. If Larry was giving you a hard time, it usually meant he liked you, and Amber got her fair share of that special treatment. The mother of Jonathan, Michael, and Christopher was Denise Spell. Larry affectionately referred to Denise as his "baby mama," and she will always be an important part of the story that helped shape the family he loved so much.

And then there was Laura.

One of Laura's sister Teri's favorite stories was one Larry told her about how he fell in love with Laura. He said he was watching her work one day, and as she moved around, her ponytail swung back and forth. Something about that simple moment melted his heart. It was such a Larry story. Not a grand romantic speech or some dramatic love story, just a simple moment that stayed with him forever and eventually grew into nearly 30 years of love and partnership.

For nearly 30 years, Laura Davis was not only the love of Larry's life, she was his best friend, his life partner, and the person who stood beside him through every chapter of life. Larry often said they had the kind of relationship everyone should have, and anyone who spent time around them knew exactly what he meant. Through the good days and the hard days, the laughter and the arguments, the adventures and the ordinary moments, Laura was there. She was the person he came home to, the person he counted on, and the person who knew him better than anyone else.

In the final chapter of Larry's life, his biggest concern was never himself. It was Laura. Even when his own health was failing, he worried about her, loved her fiercely, and wanted to make sure she would be okay. Anyone who knew Larry and Laura together knew they were a team. They faced life side by side. If there were awards for patience, loyalty, unconditional love, and putting up with Larry's sarcasm for nearly 30 years, Laura would have won every one of them.

This August would have marked 30 years together. Larry wanted more than anything to make it to that milestone. Unfortunately, he didn't quite get there. But what he did have was nearly three decades with the woman he loved, and a lifetime of memories that neither time nor death can take away. Laura was the biggest part of Larry's story. She was his home, his comfort, his partner, and the person he chose every day for nearly 30 years. Through Laura, Larry also gained an extended family in Illinois who welcomed him as one of their own. Over the years they became part of his story, and he loved them very much.

Larry was Granddaddy to Elizabeth, Emory, and Ellory Durrence, Grandad-o to Harley and Christopher, and Pappy to Lela and David. Anyone who knew Larry knew there was something especially special about the bond he shared with Ellory. They were simply each other's people, and the love between them was something everyone could see. Larry was also especially proud of his nephew, Jimmie Durrence Jr. He loved him dearly and took great pride in the man he became.

Larry loved the simple things in life. Give him a fishing pole, a good meal, and the people he loved, and he was happy. He loved fishing. He loved cooking. He loved being outdoors. He loved spending time with family. He never needed fancy things to be happy. The simple life suited him just fine. He was a man of many talents. From riding a unicycle to flying airplanes, there wasn't much he wouldn't try at least once. He could fix things, build things, cook things, and if he couldn't do it, he'd probably convince somebody else that he could anyway.

One thing we'll always remember about Larry was that he was going to say what needed to be said, no matter how inappropriate, inconvenient, or unexpected it might have been. The thing we'll miss hearing him say most is, "You ought to," his signature response whenever someone told him they loved him. The thing that made Larry uniquely Larry was his quick wit, endless sarcasm, and his ability to make you laugh, make you mad, and then make you laugh again, sometimes all in the same conversation.

Today, we don't just remember Larry's passing. We remember the laughter. We remember the fishing trips. We remember the meals he cooked. We remember the stories. We remember the sarcasm. We remember the adventures. Most of all, we remember the love he had for his family.

To know Larry was an experience. To love him was a privilege.

And if Larry could say one last thing to us today, it probably wouldn't be sentimental. It would probably be something that would make half the room laugh and the other half shake their heads. And honestly, that's exactly how he'd want to be remembered.

We love you, Larry.

Fair winds, tight lines, and save us a fishing spot.