Lawrence Earl Bazzell Sr.

Lawrence Earl Bazzell Sr. died just before noon Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, after enjoying a family Christmas with his youngest son, Bryan Miller Bazzell, daughter-in-law, Kirina, grandchildren, Brennen, Bryce and Kaylyn, and great-grandson, Logan. He is also survived by children, Lyn Bazzell and Larry Bazzell Jr.; daughter-in-law, Nancy, and stepgrandchildren, Jamie and Sam. Larry was born Feb. 22, 1921, in Paducah, Ky., and moved to McGehee, Ark., when he was 4 with his immediate family (all deceased), father Charles Edward Bazzell Sr., mother Mabel Clair Nance Bazzell and beloved brother Charles Jr. He left McGehee to attend LSU. After graduating from LSU, he attended Loyola University, New Orleans, where he graduated cum laude in dentistry in 1945. He also served briefly in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a captain in the 45th Infantry "Thunderbird" Division during the Korean War. His unit, 30 miles forward of a MASH hospital on the eastern front, above the 38th parallel, was awarded the Bronze Star. Larry practiced dentistry in Baton Rouge for more than 30 years, was past president of the Sixth District Dental Association and lifetime member of the American Dental Association. He moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1994, and was a resident of the Anchorage Pioneers' Home for the past few years. He loved the staff there - they took very good care of him. Larry loved literature, theater and the arts and, during his lifetime, he painted watercolors, wrote an operetta and a screenplay, handcrafted kites and sets for his children's school plays, read literature and enjoyed live theater. His favorite poem was Shakespeare's Sonnet 65. His sense of humor was well-known and he was entertaining the doctor and nurses in his hospital room when he died instantly of a massive stroke. Before his death, Larry wrote he has been exceedingly blessed with a loving family and wonderful, wonderful friends. Upon his death, he wanted to express his deep appreciation and gratitude for their gifts of love, friendship, kindness and generosity. Arrangements by the Cremation Society of Alaska, www.alaskacremation.com.