Lawrence B. "Larry" Hughes

LAWRENCE B. LARRY HUGHES Lawrence Boehm "Larry" Hughes, 78, of Kansas City, MO died unexpectedly on July 16, 2017, in Nijmegen, the Netherlands of complications from an infection. He had been enjoying a river cruise with family when he fell ill. Larry was born on March 31, 1939, to Lawrence and Alma (Boehm) Hughes. He was a lifelong Kansas City resident attending St. Francis Grade School, Rockhurst High School, and Rockhurst College. Larry worked for over 45 years at the family business, Acme Ambulance and Auto Livery Service, located at 2528 Holmes, his first childhood home. He started by working on the ambulances in high school and slowly gained more responsibilities after graduation from college in 1960 and the death of his father in 1968. By 1989 when his mother died, Larry was running the company that he and his brother, Jerry, then owned. In 2006, Larry sold Acme to Sean Myers, whom he considered to be his honorary son. Despite officially retiring at that time, Larry's ongoing dedication was evident in his continued enjoyment of Monday mornings spent at Acme. Larry met Mary LaNora Wholey in October, 1960 at a picnic. They married in 1962 and enjoyed 55 years of life together raising three daughters Lisa, Laura and Leanne (affectionately known as #1, #2, and #3). Larry frequently expressed his feelings of contentment and good fortune in life. He never met a stranger, and he readily befriended young and old. He showed affection by joking and gentle teasing. He often spoke to young children in the voice of Donald Duck and was thus dubbed Grandpa Duck by his grandchildren. Larry served six years in the 110th Engineers division of the Army National Guard. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He volunteered at Seton Center and served as a Eucharistic Minister at Visitation Parish where he and LaNora have been active members for over 50 years. Larry was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Robert Wholey. He is survived by his wife, LaNora, daughters and sons-in-law Lisa Hughes, Laura (Tom) Hughes Zahner, and Leanne (Rick) Hughes Hilger, grandchildren Madeline, Max, Keegan, Colin, Luke, and Oto, brother Jerry (Carolyn), nephews Eric and Brian and their mother Janet Davidson-Hues, sister-in-law Cynthia Wholey, niece Heather and nephew Sean, sister-in-law Carolyn's children, Jennifer, Christa, and Stephan, and extended family members and friends. Services will be held at Visitation Catholic Church, 5141 Main Street. Rosary at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, followed by visitation until 8 p.m. Funeral Mass at 10a.m. Wednesday, July 26, followed by a luncheon in the church hall. Burial at 2 p.m. at Mt. Olivet. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Seton Center, Journey House, Urban Ranger Corps, or Christo Rey. Condolences may be left at: www.porterfuneralhome.com Arr.: Porter Funeral Homes, (913) 438-6444.