Larry Andrew Muri

Larry Andrew Muri, 86, passed away on August 5, 2025, in Bellingham, WA, surrounded by his loving family.

Larry lived a life defined by love, generosity, and adventure. His cheerful spirit was infectious, and he created a sense of family wherever he found himself, with his laid-back sense of humor, warmth, and charm.

Larry was a gifted storyteller, known for his vivid tales of adventure. But his greatest story began in 1977 in Tehran, where he met and fell in love with Malihe Sadeghi. Their love transcended cultures and languages and was rooted in respect, joy, wild attraction, and unwavering devotion. Together, they created a home filled with the kind of love that welcomed everyone in, and demonstrated what it means to choose each other with intention every day. To Larry, Mali was not only his wife but his closest confidant and the center of his world. They built a marriage that spanned 48 beautiful years, raising children and grandchildren side by side. They exchanged daily love notes and fell asleep holding hands every night until his last.

Community was the heart of everything Larry did, and his kindness reached farther than we will ever know. He was part of many circles that became meaningful threads in the fabric of his life. From his beloved Iranian community in Seattle, where he joyfully played Santa each year, to Boeing's flight line team, the Boeing Retirees Golf League, and the International Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union, which he steadfastly supported, Larry wove lasting connections in every corner of his life. He found joy in unexpected places too, like Generations Early Learning Center, where he was a proud and well-known "Papa." He was the kind of neighbor everyone wished for.

Larry led a life dedicated to his loved ones and his work. He taught us what it means to truly show up, never missing the important moments, even after grueling 14-hour shifts. His open-mindedness, generosity, and steady presence, along with his playful whistling, dancing, and singing, enriched the lives of everyone around him.

Larry delighted in the finest things life had to offer as well as its simplest pleasures. He loved quality time with family, a good round of golf, his flourishing dahlia garden, a deluxe pedicure, or listening to the blues with a rich glass of wine or a cigar. But he also treasured the magic of simple moments: watching a Seahawks game, waffles topped with ice cream, a game of cards, reading thrillers, watching cartoons with his grandkids, or the thrill of a nibble at the end of his fishing line. He savored the fruits of his many projects, whether in admiration of his well-kept lawn, a perfectly crafted snowwoman, or cruising in his lovingly restored 1966 Mustang convertible.

Larry's early years were spent surfing and diving for abalone off the sunlit beaches of San Diego. He graduated from Hoover High School in 1956 and proudly served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1958, where he developed a passion for aviation. He attended Eastern Washington University, then married his first wife in 1960, shortly thereafter welcoming his first two daughters, Lori and Janyce.

Larry began his career with Boeing in 1965, a chapter that would open doors to international travel and adventure. He took great pride in his work on the flight line for the 747, 767, 777, and 777X programs and deeply valued the camaraderie of his colleagues and friends. His role on the extreme weather testing team carried him to the farthest corners of the globe and provided unforgettable experiences he carried proudly throughout his life.

In 1968, Larry married again, and in 1975, they welcomed his only son, Ryan.

The year Larry found a sense of home and belonging was the year he moved to Iran on assignment with Boeing. He was an active participant in Boeing-sponsored recreational sports leagues and clubs and grew to love his life as an expat in Tehran. He fell in love with Iranian hospitality, food, and especially its family-oriented culture.

In 1977, Larry met Mali at a bingo parlor in Tehran, where his friends (who later became brothers-in-law) set him up on a blind date. They embarked on a whirlwind romance that would carry them into a lifelong marriage. Their time living in Tehran was brief, as the Iranian Revolution tore Mali's family apart and forced a move to the United States. A year after moving to Bothell, Washington, they welcomed their daughter, Michelle, followed two years later by their second daughter, Natalie.

After retiring from Boeing in 2005, Larry embraced a new rhythm of life, centered on friends, grandkids, and golf, enriched by the Iranian community and culture he loved so deeply. He delighted in the joys of daily life with Mali-the magic of holiday celebrations, vacations, road trips, fishing, and bonds of friendship that grew richer with time. In 2018, Larry and Mali relocated to Bellingham, Washington, to be closer to their grandchildren, who are growing reflections of so many of the best parts of him. Larry found great happiness in being "the world's best Papa."

This remarkable man approached life with a fearless spirit, never backing down from any obstacle. He rose above a childhood marked by poverty and neglect to become a pillar of stability and an accomplished, tender-hearted family man. He faced every medical challenge with a unique courage and optimism that left an impression on everyone he touched. He relearned how to walk after a stroke, overcame a quadruple bypass, and poured his determination into rehabilitation and fitness. He survived car accidents, surfing accidents, and defied countless odds throughout his long and beautiful life. Though his body ultimately succumbed to side effects caused by myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), pulmonary fibrosis, and coronary failure, his strength, love, and tenacity will forever remain with us.

Larry is survived by his loving wife, Malihe Sadeghi Muri, and their daughters: Michelle Shireen Muri of Seattle and Natalie Laylie Muri-Louia (Scott) of Bellingham. He is also survived by his daughters Lori Triplett and Janyce Godwin (Chris) from his first marriage, his son Ryan Muri (Amy) from his second marriage, eight wonderful grandchildren: Mila Louia, Yara Louia, Amber Triplett (Joel), Jasmine Young, Triston Rumpel (Stormy), Cody Rumpel, Noah Anderson, and Payden Godwin, nine great-grandchildren, seven beloved nieces and nephews: Andy Kline (Elizabeth), Natasha Bragg, Nasim Sadeghi, Navid Sadeghi, Nima Moallem, Neil Moallem, and Nicky Moallem, his sisters-in-law Mahvash Moallem and Parvin Bragg, and brother-in-law Mohammad Sadeghi (Mojgan).

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Regina Agatha Gardener and Arthur Sherman Muri, his aunt, Mabel Helland, a sister-in-law, Parivash Kline, nephew, Michael Kline, niece, Moon Denali, and was joined in death soon after by his lifelong best friend, Gary Marshall.

The family would like to thank Whatcom Hospice House for their compassion and for ensuring his dignity and comfort during his final hours, and his care teams at PeaceHealth Oncology and the Center for Senior Health for their thoughtful care and for appreciating our dad for the extraordinary man he was.

A gathering to honor Larry will take place on Saturday, September 27, at 1:00 p.m. at Bear Creek Country Club in Woodinville, WA. All who wish to attend are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family humbly requests that any memorial contributions be made to Generations Early Learning and Family Center / St. Francis Foundation.