Larry Richard De Vore passed away Dec. 19, 2012, in Phoenix, Ariz. He was 63.
Larry was born June 20, 1949, in Monte Vista, Colo., to Violet (Anderson) De Vore and the late Richard (Dick) De Vore. Larry grew up in Pagosa Springs, Colo. In high school, he lettered in football, basketball and track. During his Junior year in football he was named All-conference center by coaches in the San Juan Basin A League. The Denver Post selected him for All-State Second Team Center. He served as president of National Honor Society, was editor of the student annual, was student council representative, and was a charter member of Snowboz Ski Club. In 1967, Larry graduated from Pagosa Springs High School as valedictorian. During his junior and senior years of high school, Larry also worked part-time with Russ Hill as a butcher at Hersch’s Grocery Store. Larry was a gifted artist and designed covers for the county fair and also for school play programs.
In the fall of 1967, Larry started college at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo. He also attended school in Sterling, Colo. In 1970, Larry met Shirley Jean Paul, who was attending the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo. He moved to Greeley to be closer to Shirley. He worked at Shakey’s Pizza. Larry and Shirley were married on Aug. 21, 1971. They were later divorced, but their union produced two children — Danielle Anne, born in 1975, and Thomas Richard, born in 1977. While in Greeley, Larry drove a truck for T&T Distributing in LaSalle for 13 years. He was also a master craftsman, working in leather, stained glass and wood. Through the years, he made many beautiful gifts for family members and friends. Larry owned a custom furniture store, High Plains Customs Furniture, for several years. A few of his special projects were designing and building a circular desk for a handicapped college professor, and designing a bank lobby and building the furniture for it. His work was beautiful.
Larry received his B.A. degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. He worked for a short time as a security guard and substitute history teacher at Greeley Central High School. Larry helped develop a class in Native American Studies with the University of Northern Colorado. For multiple summers, Larry would accompany a class of students with their professors on a tour of Arizona and New Mexico, viewing Indian ruins and studying and experiencing the past and present day Indian customs and beliefs. Larry loved these trips and said they were awesome and very spiritual.
In 2000, Larry retired and moved to Phoenix, Ariz., to live with his sister, Marla Garza. He continued his lifelong love of carpentry, building entertainment center furniture and the fanciest chicken coop you ever did see.
Larry was preceded in death by his father, Richard Issac De Vore.
He is survived by his ex-wife, Shirley De Vore, daughter Danielle Noffsinger (Paul) and granddaughters Lia Billheimer and Lily Noffsinger; son Thomas De Vore (Staci) and grandson Liam De Vore all of Greeley, Colo.; mother Violet De Vore, sisters Marla Garza, Christine De Vore and Laure De Vore, all of Phoenix, Ariz.; numerous nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Larry was a wonderful, caring son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and was a friend to many. He will be greatly missed.
A private family celebration of Larry’s life was held Dec. 23, 2012, in Phoenix, Ariz.
