Lawrence Richard Ross

Lawrence Richard Ross died August 6th, 2020 at the age of 73 surrounded by family. Born in 1947 in Hays, Kansas, Larry grew up just an hour south in Great Bend after his parents, Pete and Mildred, and his sisters, Jeri and Janet, and brother Pat, relocated there from the family farm. Larry had a long-established work ethic, and by the tender age of 14 was driving heavy trucks for his father’s oil pipe testing business. He was an all-state high school fullback and, unbeknownst to his children, answered to the name “Butch” throughout his childhood. Legend also has it that Larry’s childhood bicycle was “made out of wood” and could navigate the uphill-both-ways demands of school attendance in any season, including the snow. It was while studying journalism at Kansas University that he fell in love with Amanda Sue Moorhead. Larry met Sue while she was taking out the garbage at an apartment complex he managed. It was Halloween 1967 and Sue was dressed as a nun. Larry and Sue have long maintained that they were level-headed, upstanding mid-westerners, of the strongest moral compass and with only the healthiest of habits in college. Recently surfaced photographic evidence of their time together at KU has raised interest in further investigation. Immediately following graduation in 1969, Larry did two things: he married the love of his life, and he enlisted in the U.S. Army. The newlyweds spent their first summer together in Fort Benning, GA, where Larry attended OCS School, finishing first in his class. He then served as 1st Lieutenant, Small Unit Command, in Vietnam from 1971-1972. Larry rarely spoke of his time in Vietnam, though his family was not surprised to learn (after his passing) that he was a recipient of the Bronze Medal for meritorious service in 1972. Later that same year, Larry returned home from service and began a career in sales, first in St. Louis, MO, the birthplace of his eldest son, Jason, and a year later in Wilton, CT, where his two beloved children, Amanda and Michael, were born. Larry shared no greater joy than when attending his kids’ sporting events, whether that meant white-knuckling the track fence or delivering booming encouragement from the nosebleed seats. In 1983, Larry’s position as Vice President with R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company relocated the family to Longwood, Florida, where Larry’s unwavering passion for golf and Mexican food flourished throughout his adult life. A framed drawing of Printing Press #380 from the Donnelley Willard plant proudly hangs in his home office, a reminder of Larry’s humble beginnings in the printing business, before his sustained success with the EL-HI group. Letters are piled in his desk from dear friends and colleagues, mentors and mentees, addressed to “The General,” as he was affectionately known to those close to him during his 33-year tenure. Larry and Sue cultivated lifelong friendships while living in Lawrence, KS; Wilton, CT; and Longwood, FL, that have not only endured but grown richer through the decades. Larry was especially fond of annual trips to Maggie Valley and, in more recent years, golfing adventures in Ireland. Also found in his desk was an enormous stack of nearly every scorecard from years of rounds. He was a man of few words, but his laughter often revealed his secret joy—and once he started laughing it was difficult to get him to stop. “DUKE” as Larry was known later in life, spent every other moment possible with his five grandchildren, Declan, Scout, Weatherly, Lily, and Frankie, whom he adored endlessly—a love perhaps only matched by their love and affection for him. He spent tireless hours traversing the east coast to visit them in Boston, Tampa, or Chapel Hill, and even more hours roughhousing on the floor, starting pattycake games, cooking the world’s best sunny-side-up eggs, inventing games in the pool, schooling everyone in blackjack and Kings Free, and teaching the next Ross generation to ‘put a little English on it’ when driving the 8 ball into the corner pocket or delivering a ping-pong win. He loved his daughters-in-law, Heather and Vanessa, and his son-in-law, Jay, as his own. For those who knew Larry and were closest to him, his passing has only codified the incredible character that he was known for in life. Loyalty (above all), honesty (to a fault), accountability (family first) and, most of all, Love. A quiet, enduring, enriching, forgiving Love. Larry was never afraid to do the right thing. When asked to advise a friend or family member faced with a difficult situation, he would look you straight on with his bright blue eyes and often simply offer that you KEEP GOING. We can hear you rooting for us, Duke. We’ll be good, Dad. We’ll be safe. We love you. ------- The Rosses would like to thank friends and family for the incredible outpouring of support during this difficult time. Due to current circumstances regarding COVID, we have chosen to postpone a celebration of life for Larry until we can hold a proper wake (his wish). Throughout his life Larry admired the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who were called to service. Donations in Memoriam of Lawrence Richard Ross can be made to the The Army Emergency Relief fund, here: https://give.armyemergencyrelief.org/default.aspx?tsid=12756

Lawrence Richard Ross

April 29, 1947 - August 6, 2020