Laurel Earl Prentice

Laurel (Larry) Earl

PRENTICE

Laurel (Larry) Earl Prentice, 85, of Reno, passed away July 6, 2009 at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center. He was born December 3, 1923 in Flint, MI to Roy and Bessie (Darling) Prentice. Larry joined the U. S. Army in 1943, where he was a bandsman, but was discharged in 1944 after contracting tuberculosis. He graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in English, French, and Music. Larry began playing trumpet professionally at age 15, but switched to piano because of lung damage caused by TB. He played in "dance bands" in the Detroit/Flint area, arranged and wrote music for "jingles" for an advertising company, and his "day job" was managing a retail store. Larry moved to Tucson, AZ and spent 10+ years playing with various groups and solo. He also worked as a piano tuner. He was a member of the Tucson Jazz Society & Piano Tuner's Guild.

Larry moved to Reno in 1981, where he entertained at the Vario's Piano Bar for 5 years, Ormsby House Steakhouse for 3 years until they closed, a comedy/music group in Elko (Matys Bros. at the Commercial Hotel), and numerous individual groups. He was a long-term member of the Reno Municipal Band, playing summers in the park, and lastly with the Russ Linquist Sierra Swing Band, where he also did some arranging. Larry was referred to as a "Musician's Musician" by many and had a photographic memory for tunes. When a member of the audience would request an obscure song, all eyes would turn to Larry as he pulled the tune from his memory bank.

Larry is survived by his wife Norma J. Prentice, Reno, children; Harold Prentice, Lansing, MI, Randy (Diana) Prentice, Diane (Michael) Ganski, Melody (Mike) Brimmer, all of Tucson, AZ, Bobbie (Winston) Goodman, Reno, Dawn (Les) Nakagari, Davis, CA, Glynis Millican, Tucson, AZ, and Quinn (Susan) Merrill, Merryville, LA, sisters; Elna (William) Ross, Davidson, MI and Wilma Lapota, Detroit, MI, brother; James Prentice, Flint, MI, 13 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews in the Flint, MI area.

Memorial Services will be held on Sunday, July 12 at 11 a.m. at Walton Funeral Home, 875 W. 2nd Street, Reno. Reception will follow at Tamarack Junction. Musical instruments are welcome.