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 sone,
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.