A farewell to Larry

After a short but courageous battle with cancer, the Lord took my Uncle Larry home this past weekend. I was honored to write his obituary, so I share it here as a final tribute.


Larry Hubert Ely was born March 3, 1945 in Amarillo, Texas to Walter and Ruth Ely. He grew up in Dumas and Sunray, Texas. Larry graduated from Sunray High School 1963. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1971. He was very patriotic and loved his country.

Larry married Ione Browder in 1970, and she preceded him in death in 1993. Larry married again in 1995 to Linda Davis and became part of a family who adored him and whom he loved deeply. He was an avid musician and loved to share his talent of playing the guitar and fiddle with others. He wrote many inspiring songs, most of which centered on his faith. Larry loved to sing and play his instruments at family gatherings and at home. In 2009 he became a member of the Yesteryear Band. He had a passion for all kinds of music, but his favorite was the blues.

Larry worked as a welder/operator for Continental Carbon for 37 years. An inventor by heart, he created some of the most unusual bicycles that everyone enjoyed riding. He never met anything he couldn’t fix. If Larry couldn’t fix it, it couldn’t be fixed. He was a jokester and loved to tease others and laugh. Larry loved spending time with his family, especially his two great grandchildren, Brandi and Leland, whom were the joy of his life.

Larry was raised in the Assembly of God Church but, feeling like a Baptist at heart, he became a member of First Baptist Church in Dumas, Texas in 1987. He loved his Lord and left a legacy of faith and strength to all who loved him and walked with him through his short but courageous battle with cancer. It was in dying that Larry taught us how to live.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Ruth Ely; granddaughter, Shelby Davis; mother-in-law, Bennie Hall; father-in-law, John Harmon; niece, Beverly Bennett; and uncle, Hubert Norrell.

Survivors include wife Linda Ely of the home; three children, Kelly Davis of Dumas, Texas, Terri Gambrel and husband Joey of Channing, Texas, and Chad Ely and wife Mary Ann of Sunray, Texas; a loving brother, Gerald Ely and wife Cheryl of Pampa, Texas, and brother Buzzy Ely and wife Kay of Gillette, Wyoming; six grandchildren, Abby Tipton and husband Trey of Amarillo, Texas, Christen Davis of Amarillo, Texas, Ariel and Sarah Gambrell of Channing, Texas, and Garrett and Abigail Ely of Sunray, Texas; two great grandchildren, Brandi and Leland Tipton of Amarillo, Texas; favorite aunt, Francis Norrell of Sunray, Texas; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Gene and DeLynn Hall of Waco, Texas, Don and Barbara Wright of Muldrow, Oklahoma, Larry and Judy Cummins of Pueblo, Colorado, Bob and Janet Pomykala of Baytown, Texas, Fate Bennett of Fritch, Texas, Jackie Davis of Dumas, Texas; many nieces, nephews, cousins; his pecan-eating buddies, Pepper, Gracie, Tootsie and Maggie; and many friends, all of whom will greatly miss him.