Larry Plants was an eclectic soul. He was timeless. At 50 years old Larry could relate to the fancy's of a child, a young adult and even an old man. This was seen in his activities and interest. He took great interest in the preschool children his sister taught and the antics of his teenage nephew. He teased the adults he encountered and was comfortable with "old folks." Larry's DVD collection reflected this eclectic interest as it included Disney movies, the One Tree Hill collection, many John Wayne movies as well as old Red Skeleton shows. His music collection included Neil Diamond, Selena Gomez, Reba Macintyre, and the random Harp & Flute CD. Larry collected many things including baseball cards, rocks, marbles, playing cards, and match box cars. He was interested in civil war history, drawing, hockey, and any sport that had girls playing. Larry's interest were big and wide much like his heart.
Larry had a very tender heart. He was compassionate, giving considerate, and sentimental. Larry cared about people and what they were interested in or might need. Larry was generous, giving to others. He was thrifty hating to break a ten dollar bill when purchasing his own snacks but quick to share for the sake of another. Larry made decisions based on what he thought another person might want. Larry's family was very important to him. His phrase "let's do it as a family" was frequent in his conversations. Larry was very sentimental about his friends and family loving to share stories of the past and making new memories with them.
Larry's answers often road the fence. His answer to how was your day was typically "good and bad." He answered many questions with "yes and no." And he more often followed up what he was thinking with "in my opinion." Though he was non committal in many such answers, Larry had a strong sense of right and wrong. Larry was a person of integrity.
Recently a grade school friend shared that he remembered Larry having a strong character even at a young age. Eddy wrote
"Larry is one of those guys with great heart and character of a man. It was easy to see even as a child. What stands out to me most was Larry’s strong sense of integrity and loyalty to his family, that made a big impression on me. He was the first person I knew who took personal integrity seriously ..who relied far more on the internal compass rather than what people thought. He had a great heart and I remember his great character."
Larry faced many challenges during his 50 years. Over the years the count of surgeries, stitches and broken bones that he endure has been lost but they were numerous. He spent more days at the doctor's office and hospital in his lifetime than he probably did at school. Larry did not get to participate in most of the milestones of his peers. There were times he expressed his sorrow over this. Yet for the most part Larry patiently took life in stride. He rolled with the punches and found delights in the simple things.
Larry was not a "contributor" to the world in the way we often think of productive people. There was much he could not do. There was much that he needed people to do for him. Yet Larry gave so much in simply being. He was a great listener, listening with big smiles to our stories. He loved to laugh, often making jokes and teasing. He found delight in simple pleasures. Larry showed great endurance and patience in a fast paced and frantic world. People were important to him. He cared deeply for his friends and family. And for this reason we miss Larry and are sad at his passing.
However Larry spent most of his life in a body that was
confining. His mobility and speech were slow.
His thought processes often delayed.
He was limited because of his physical body. Yet from a young age Larry believed and
trusted in Jesus with his heart and soul.
And it is because of this truth that we believe Larry is at last free
from the limits of his earthly body.
Larry is dancing and singing in the presence of Jesus without
confinement or delay. And for this we rejoice. For this we are happy to know
that at last he is free.
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