Larry Simon Harper was born February 29, 1948 in Gillette, Wyoming to Jack and Pearl Harper. He was taken home to Rocky Point, Wyoming where they lived in a sheep wagon. All his life he loved sheep wagons and always thought it was because that was his first home.
His Dad worked in the oilfield so the family moved around a lot and he spent a lot of time with his Grandmother and Aunt and Uncle in his younger years. Larry started working in the oilfield when he was 15 years old to help support his family when his Dad was injured.
He worked in the oilfield until he joined the Navy in 1967. He served on the aircraft carriers the USS Ticonderoa and the USS Hancock as a helicopter crewman. He served two tours in Vietnam and earned the Bronze Star.
While on leave in the Navy, Larry met the love of his life and married Ginger Vondra on February 8, 1970 in Casper, Wyoming. They were blesses with 2 amazing boys; Cory and Cody, 4 wonder grandkids; Justin, Joshua, Morgan and Dalton and 1 truly adorable great granddaughter Carter Lynn. He welcomed great friendships and always family into his life and took on the role of Father to many along the way.
When Larry got out of the service, he gained employment in Shirley Basin at the Uranium mine, where he worked for 2 years, He moved to Sheridan where he worked at Decker Coal for 7 years in Montana and thereafter, he moved to Casper in 1981 where he worked and eventually retired in 2015 at Little America Refinery.
Larry was an all-around outdoorsman, he loved to hunt, fish, trap, camp, pan for gold and 4-wheel with his wife. The most important hobby Larry enjoyed was above all, family. He loved his kids and grandkids and continued to teach them their whole lives. He always said God put him on this earth to love his wife and raise his kids - all the while taking care of them in every way. He loved his friends and extended family and was always willing to lend a helping hand whenever needed. He also really enjoyed a little "turkey & coke" now and then.
Larry wandered on to be with the Lord on September 5, 2016 at home surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his sisters Twila & Lynda, his father Jack and his mother Ilene. He is survived by his loving wife, Ginger of Casper; children, Cory & Cheryl Harper of Cottonwood, CA & Cody & Trish Harper of Wright, WY; grandchildren, Justin, Joshua, Morgan Dalton and great granddaughter Carter Lynn as well as many loving friends and family. Larry was well loved and will be missed greatly.
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