Larry Gibson

Larry Leroy Gibson, 69, died May 4, 2022, at his home in Broken Arrow, OK. He was born September 24, 1952, in Oakley, KS, to Duane and Betty (Walz) Gibson, of Monument, KS. Larry was the third of five children. He attended Monument Consolidated School until he graduated from the 8th grade. Betty passed away in 1965 and Duane in 1968. Larry and his brother Ferman were lucky enough to have the Wilson Fink family take them in. Lee Fink and Larry were just like brothers. Later, they moved to the DeWitt Beougher farm. In 1966, Monument school unified with the Oakley schools creating USD #274 and Larry graduated in 1970, from Oakley High School. During high school he worked for area farmers and worked with his dad farming. From a young age he loved fast cars and motorcycles. At the age of 12, he would ride his motorcycle to Winona, from Monument, on the dirt roads, but he had to wait until his dad went to the field, because he sure did not have permission. When he wasn’t riding his bike or motorcycle, he was eating his mom’s chocolate chip cookies out of the deep freeze with the Schoenfeld and Moore boys. After graduation, Larry went to work for Eberle Construction and then he applied at the feedlot. He talked to Dick Kvasnicka about the job and Dick said, “I don’t think I know you.” Larry replied, “Yes you do, you wrote my dad and I enough tickets to fill a glovebox.” And he got the job.

Larry and LaRae Engel got married in April of 1976 and had one son, Clinton. After a few years, Larry started working in the Oil Fields. Larry loved to see the country. He spent many happy hours fishing in the Durango area and other places with Clint, when he was small. Larry, LaRae and Clint traveled all over the western United States and he loved the many rides to Sturgis, SD and other places with his friends. Larry and his sister Janet were able to take several trips together around the US. When you went with Larry, you had to be fast, because you saw the country at 80 mph. Although he and LaRae didn’t stay married, Larry remained an integral part of her and Clint’s lives. Larry was a cherished member of LaRae’s own family and was always welcome around the Engel’s table. His passing leaves an empty spot in their hearts. Larry always said that LaRae was his best friend.

No one loved a joke or a good prank more than Larry. Many people over the years were the target of his good humor. Larry’s laughter was contagious and the faces of his friends and family would light up when he came into a room. Pitch games won’t be the same without him.

In 1993, Larry moved to the Tulsa, OK area. There he started Gibson Trucking, bought a couple of dump trucks, and went to work. He had just retired in the last few years. Even as he grew older, his passion for fast cars and motorcycles was still there. He shared that love with his grandson, Logan. He was everyone’s favorite uncle, and he loved his nieces and nephews. Larry loved coyote hunting with his nephew Tate and his boys anytime he was in Oakley. He was a great mentor/uncle to a lot of kids in Oklahoma also. He was always someone you could count on. He would be there when you needed him.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Betty (1965) and Duane (1968); brother Ernest Lee (1951); sister Amy Lorraine (1957); brother-in-law Butch Collins (2014) and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

He is survived by his best friend, LaRae (Marvin) Flanary; son, Clint (Amy) Gibson; grandchildren, Logan (Rachel West) Gibson and Randi Gibson; brother Ferman and his daughter Amanda; sister Janet Collins and her children, Jodi (Curtis Hansen), Jacque (Brad) Willems, Traci (Ron) Hazelton and Tate Collins; many great nieces and nephews and too many friends to list.

Larry was a friend to all and will be missed by many.

A memorial service will take place at Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the United Christian Church, 219 Center Ave, Oakley, KS with burial at the Monument Cemetery.