Larry Harrison

Larry Harrison
Larry Harrison

Larry Harrison, 70, of Vega, TX died Friday, August 9, 2019.

 

Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 12, 2019 in Christ’s Community Fellowship in Vega, TX. 

 

Lawrence was born on December 6, 1948 in Houston, TX to Margaret and Jep Harrison.  He worked for the railroad as a training coordinator and conductor for 34 years. 

 

He married Kathleen Ann Gates on November 18, 1970 in Chapel of the Golden Bells in Reno, Nevada. 

 

Lawrence was preceded in death by a son, Lawrence Dean Harrison, II and a daughter, Lorie Kathleen Harrison.  

 

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; three sons, Kris, Richard and Larry Harrison and wife Courtney Harrison; a daughter, Molly Thomas and husband Randy Thomas; a sister, Sandy Tkacz; thirteen grandchildren, including two that he raised, Evan and Rylee; and nine great-grandchildren.

16 Replies to “Larry Harrison”

  1. So sad to see that a great friend has passed. I also new Larry from his Travis Air Force days, where I was a medic. Larry taught me to play guitar. No one could teach that voice. Peggy Heidelberger and I visited Larry and Kathy in Texas after he got out of the Air Force. We stayed in touch for a few years and then lost track of him. The internet had too many Larry Harrisons to figure out which was right. Today I googled ‘Larry Harrison Texas Air Force’ and that did the trick. I always figured that one day I’d hear a good song on the radio and they would say that was Larry. A great talent went undiscovered. Dinner and music at Larry’s house in Fairfield will never be forgotten. It is nice to see what a great man he became. He will be missed.

  2. My heart is very saddened to hear of the passing of Larry. My condolences to Kathy, family, and friends. I met Larry at Travis Air Force Base in 1969. We lived in the same barracks for awhile. Great times playing our guitars and singing. Larry had such a great voice, I know he could have been professional, He also wrote some real nice songs. I still have a tape of us playing and singing in his living room in Fairfield Ca. after he married Kathy. If my memory is correct, they only knew each other for less than a month before getting married. After I got out of the Air Force in 1972 and returned to Tucson (Larry would kid me and call it Tombstone) my brother and I drove to Amarillo to visit Larry and Kathy. In 1986, after I got injured on the job and was away from work for 2 years recovering, and struggling to make ends meet, out of the kindness of his heart, Larry sent me $100. I have never forgotten about that. I last spoke with Larry over the phone in 1987. I have thought about him occasionally over the years. The reason I know of his passing is because I was thinking about him, then I decided to goggle his name. I know the kind of person Larry is, big heart, great family man, and a good solid friend to others. God Bless.

  3. I met Larry and Kathy almost 39 years ago. Although I was new to the group, they welcomed me and made me feel like family. I will always cherish the times at their home with their family. Larry singing and playing guitar, Tom joining in, kids running around, great food, fun and lots of laughter. So many great memories!
    I am grateful our kids were able to experience the warmth and friendship we always received when we were able to get together again, always as if no time had passed.
    We will all miss Larry’s voice, laughter, integrity, words of wisdom and the love he showed for Kathy, his family and friends.

  4. I wasn’t related to Larry by blood, but he was absolutely my family. Larry was my dad’s best friend since they were teenagers, and because of that, I had the privilege of knowing him my entire life. My memories of Larry were some of the most treasured of my childhood: playing Nintendo with his son Little Larry, watching the movie Critters in his living room, but most importantly, gathering around Larry like he was the head of a wise and ancient counsel, listening to him perform beautiful songs with his guitar and dispense wisdom with his deep, gruff, knowing voice.

    Larry was such a huge influence on my development as a person, and I will never be able to thank him enough for being part of my life. When I graduated college in 2008, he sent me an email of congratulations, and included this paragraph that has stuck with me ever since:

    “Your dad told me I could send you some words of wisdom. I don’t have any. All I know is that one day I blinked my eyes and I was old. The important decisions I made still live with me today. The important ones all had to do with my family and a small group of special friends. The rest of it was pretty much bullsh*t.”

    Never has a small passage encapsulated Larry’s unique brand of wisdom to perfectly, and I apply it to my life daily.

    Larry, you were and will always be my family, and my important decisions will always be influenced by your one-of-a-kind voice in the back of my head.

  5. I vividly remember the first time I got to hear Larry sing. In fact I consider it to be one of the most important moments in my life, and I often trace it back as the beginning of my own journey as a musician. My family was visiting Amarillo, and we went over to the Harrison’s house for dinner. After the meal everyone was begging Larry to play for us. So ever humble… and almost sheepishly, he went and got his guitar, making soft disclaimers all the while. He was one man playing in a little house for a few friends, so I remember anticipating a quiet, almost casual performance… the kind of performance I expected from what many people would consider to be an uncomfortable situation. I remember feeling nervous for him. Then he started to play. His quiet, almost shy voice from a moment ago was replaced by his loud, strong, emotional singing voice and he absolutely disappeared into each song. It was like he was suddenly playing for 10,000 people. I was entranced. Every time he played a song he performed it 100% and from the first note to the last he had everyone’s full attention. I remember looking around the room at all the smiling faces, eyes full of love. That’s how I remember it… you could literally see the love in people’s eyes when they watched Larry perform. I admired everything about Larry in that moment, (we all did) and it became a goal of mine to create moments like that myself one day. To date, me and my brother and sister have played and performed hundreds of concerts together. Some in front of hundreds of people, some in front of little more than the other bands and the sound guy… but big or small, we always ALWAYS perform 100% and I got that from Larry. And of course he was more than his musical talent and his amazing voice. We connected over books and science and philosophy over the years, and I learned a lot from him… but I wanted to share this story because that one moment changed my life forever. And for that I am eternally grateful to you Larry. May you Rest In Peace.

  6. My condolences to your family. I knew Larry when he was in high school from my brother, Jerry Carlin. I thought those two were just the coolest guys ever.
    Peace to you all. Joany Carlin.

  7. There’s a phrase from an old Waylon Jennings song that speaks a great deal about the man Larry was. It says, “I’ve spent a lifetime making up my mind to be more than the measure of what I thought others could see”. Larry was a man of God, courageous, strong and a man of integrity. He didn’t live his life to impress others. He lived his life tying to live up to his own ideals. And He succeeded quite well. He was my hero and my world will be much smaller without him. Farewell sweet brother!

  8. Larry Harrison was a kind man who enjoyed life. He was a high school friend of mine leaving fond memories. Deepest sympathy to his family. Doug Britten

  9. Larry was one of the kindest and most genuine people I have ever met. I am eternally grateful for the positive impact he has had on my family and the lifelong friendship he had with my Dad. He will be truly missed.

  10. Oh my precious cousin! What an amazing man! The world has experienced a tremendous loss but heaven has received an awesome man after God’s own heart. My mind is flooded with memories of our childhood. Images of you, Jep and my brothers in your youth; images of your playing your guitar, images around your mom’s dinner table are all so precious to me. Thank you for imparting wisdom to me when I was a new parent. You and Kathy were so kind to me during a difficult time of my life. I am eternally grateful. I love you, Larry! I’ll see you again.

  11. The earth is a little less bright without Larry Harrison. We will miss you in this life, but know that we’ll see you on the other side where we know you are singing with the angels.
    You could have no doubt been a big star with your song writing, singing voice and guitar playing but it’s easy to see that being a great husband, father, brother and uncle or just as a cousin to your extended family across the state was much more important and somehow ordained by God. Join the choir now with that deep voice and we’ll all be there soon!

  12. I knew Larry for over 45 years. I remember when I first met him through my brother Danny. I was 18 years old and I was learning guitar and Larry took the time to sit down and show me some things. That lasted for over 45 years. He taught me about music, about being a man, about family and about caring. He was the greatest man I’ve ever met and my best friend. I will love him always.

  13. Larry, The first time I met you and Kathy, in 2010, I’ve held you in the highest respect. You were a man of God. You served our Country, loved and protected your family and fought like a true warrior to the end. I’m going to miss those political conversations with you as much as the ones shared about raising children in today’s world. You were an honest and true gentleman. Love you! Soar High!

    1. Kathy and family, you are in our thoughts and prayers. To my long-time, dear friend, Larry. You will be truly missed by all. Godspeed your way.

      Your friends,
      Jerry Carlin and Janie Carlin King

  14. Larry was such a great man. He was amazing to talk to and such a wonderful musician. I loved listening to his guitar playing. He will truly be missed. My heart goes out to his wonderful family.

  15. Larry was a great guy. You always knew where he stood on any issue. I learned a lot of guitar from Larry. Lot of fun nights playing Neil Young songs. He had a good voice for guitar. He had a song about serving in Vietnam and I never heard a song better than his about his service.
    I’m glad I knew Larry and my condolences to Kathy and his family and his good friend, and mine, Tom Drinnen.

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