Larry Max Combs

1937 - 2018

Larry Max Combs 1937-2018 Larry Max Combs, 81, Stanberry, MO passed away Friday, July 27, 2018 at a St. Joseph, MO hospital. There's a cowboy saying, "Every man is entitled to three things in life: one good horse, one good dog, and one good woman." By every measure, Larry Max Combs lived a rich life. He was born in rural Gentry County, Missouri on July 17, 1937 to Henry Hance and Ruby Fern (Evans) Combs. Larry received his early education at the one room Beggs school house and grew up on Muleshoe Ranch. His family raised show mules, ran a dairy operation, and harvested blue grass seed in multiple states. At age 13, Larry hopped a freight train to work the summer wheat harvests in Montana, even purchasing a car with some fellow Gentry Countians. After graduating from Stanberry High School in 1955, he served in the Air Force and was stationed in Iceland, learned the carpentry trade while building houses in Amarillo, TX, and also attended school at the University of Miami in Florida. As much as Larry loved adventure, he loved his family more and returned to Stanberry to help run the family farm. In 1966, he met and married the love of his life, Karen, who shared Larry's work ethic and sense of adventure their honeymoon in Oklahoma was spent traveling to buy a stud horse. At Muleshoe Ranch he earned a reputation for breeding and training Champion Quarter Horses. Some of the most notable included Bego Blue Eddie, Misty Blue Gold, Doc Clabber, and Muleshoe Doc. His favorite though, was an unregistered horse named Fox. Larry was so overcome with grief when Fox died, he hand dug a hole with a shovel and buried Fox by himself. At Muleshoe Ranch, Larry, along with the help of his daughter Melinda, ran an artificial insemination breeding program for cutting horses, where top mares from all over the United States were brought to Gentry County for stud service. Many life-long cowboy friends were made during these years, but especially dear to him were Howard Pitzer, Sam Burtwistle, and Ed Trennpohl all from the O'Neill, Nebraska vicinity. Later in life, Larry returned to his carpentry skills, earning his primary living as a trim carpenter and a craftsman that was always in high demand. A highlight during this period included operating L&L Trim Carpenters with his son Lance, and later working for and advising his son, who became a nationally recognized award-winning remodeling contractor. In addition to the aforementioned businesses, Larry also helped his wife Karen start Karen's of King City, a women's clothing boutique and a fixture in the community for thirty years. Larry and Karen loved traveling to buyer's markets for this business together. In addition to Karen's, they also owned a Dairy Queen in King City for a few years. Together, Larry and Karen lived a life filled with travels and adventure. They went through life hand in hand, always made it through the difficult times, and enjoyed 52 years together with no regrets and nothing left on their shared bucket list. Larry's dedication and love for his family served as the northern star in all chapters of his life. To Larry, family wasn't always determined just by blood it was simply determined by the amount of love, time and commitment you held for someone. He cherished time with those he loved as his most valued commodity and by this standard he went to heaven a rich man. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, and infant brother, Gregory Leonard Combs in 1958. Larry is survived by his wife Karen Combs, of the home; daughter, Melinda (John) Broward, Gardner, KS; son, Lance (Diana) Combs, Kansas City, MO, Ray Babcock of Meredith, CO (no blood relation, but considered like a son); sister, June Marlene McKenny, St. Joseph, MO; brother, retired Major General Roger Evans (Gloria) Combs, King City, MO and grandson, Ross Correll, Gardner, KS. The Family will hold a Memorial Service at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 5 at the Island City Christian Church, Island City, MO. Inurnment will be held at a later date. As a lifetime member of the Island City Church, a luncheon will be served from 11:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. with visitation following from 1:00-2:00 p.m. to share fond memories. Memorials may be made to Goats for the Old Goat and/or Island City Christian Church in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 153, Stanberry, MO 64489. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com