Larry D. Eason

1934 - 2021

Larry D. Eason
May 21, 1934 - April 10, 2021
Fort Worth, Texas - Larry was born May 21, 1934 at home in Countyline, Oklahoma. His father, who was employed by an oil company, was transferred to Altamont, Ill., when Larry was 5 years of age. Larry attended grade school there. When he was 11, Larry's family was transferred to Winfield, Kansas where he attended high school and the local college, Southwestern College. While attending Southwestern, he worked at the local state school for the mentally retarded. That experience would have a profound impact on his life and career choice. After graduating from college, he moved to Oklahoma where he met his future wife, Lequita James of Ardmore, Oklahoma. They were married November 28, 1954. He then attended the University of Oklahoma, where he received his MEd. in August, 1957.
After graduating from OU, Larry and Lequita moved to Fort Worth so he could attend seminary. During that time, he was employed part time as executive director of the Tarrant County Mental Health Association. Two years later he was contacted by a group of parents of developmentally delayed children who wanted to merge several agencies that served mentally retarded children to start a multidisciplinary clinic to diagnose and treat developmentally disabled children. Larry became the executive director and led the group of parents and community volunteers in forming the Child Study Center. It was the first center in the nation where multiple agencies were housed in one location with access to services of a multidisciplinary diagnostic clinic. Larry served as President/CEO of the Center for 39 years before retiring in 1999. During this time, the Center served more than 50,000 children and their families. Throughout his working career he continued his education and earned two additional degrees: a Bachelor of Divinity in 1966 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctorate in Education in 1994 from Southwestern College, Kansas.
After retiring, Larry started a consulting practice to not-for-profit organizations. His first client was Union Gospel Mission, which serves people experiencing homelessness. Larry helped develop a strategic plan for the agency, which was the oldest charity in Fort Worth. Based on that plan, the mission started a fundraising program, built a new center and remodeled several other facilities. After serving as a consultant for one year, he resigned and was elected to the board. He served as board president from 2003-2005.
Larry was chair of the Deacons at Broadway Baptist Church on two occasions, 1966-68 and 1979-81. He was chair of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Southwestern College in Kansas from 2006-2009. Larry was a member of the Rotary Club of Fort Worth for more than 50 years and served as its president in 1988-89. At the time, it was the third largest Rotary Club in the world. In 2012, he and Lequita moved to Watermere at Southlake, a senior living center, where Larry served as president of the HOA for five years.
During his career Larry received many honors including the May Owen Award, presented by the Tarrant County Medical Society in 2007 in recognition of his work with both the Child Study Center and Union Gospel Mission.
Larry and Lequita travelled extensively and made more than 25 trips to Europe, China and Japan. He was an active golfer and a member of Ridglea Country Club. Knowing that he was going to be cremated, he and his son David built his own cremation box in which he will be buried.
The family requests memorials in honor of Larry be made to the Child Study Center or Union Gospel Mission of Fort Worth.
Larry is survived by his wife, Lequita; two sons, David Ray Eason and his wife, Barbara, and Stephen James Eason; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Sidney Joe Eason in 1979 and his mother, Daisy Eason in 1969.
A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. April 20, 2021 at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth.