Larry Edward Craven

Larry Edward Craven was called home to be with our Lord on October 11, 2024, with his loving wife of 36 years, Mary, by his side, after a long illness. Larry was born on January 19, 1939, in Winterset, Iowa to Lester and Helen Button Craven. The marriage dissolved and his mother remarried Ellis Bailey, a military man from Texas. They lived in Harlingen until moving to Alaska, where Larry attended Lathrop High School in Fairbanks. After graduating, he enlisted in the USAF, and married Bettsie Isaacs of Corpus Christi, TX. Together they had four children.
Larry received his BS in Biology from University of South Carolina, driving to night classes in Columbia, while stationed at Shaw AFB in Sumter. Larry retired in Bastrop, Texas, a Vietnam Vet, having proudly served 24 years in the military, achieving the rank of SMSgt. He started a second career as a realtor and appraiser. On Feb 21, 1988, he married Mary Ivy of Bastrop, Tx, and was dubbed Pops by her two teen children. He had found his forever love and settled into being a father to all six children. Larry then worked as a civil service employee and in MWR, at the various military bases where Mary's civil service career led them.
Lessons Larry imparted were subtle. He once sent his young teen son back into the remote Alaskan woods to retrieve gear he had accidentally left at a fishing spot. He handed his son a pistol, saying, "watch for bears." Larry followed him, secretly at a distance, to keep an eye on him, but ultimately had empowered him with a rite of passage and trust. His Golden Rule was "return things you've borrowed in better condition than you found them, always." A borrowed car went back with a full tank of gas or a wash. Items were never returned broken. "Fix or replace it before handing it back to the owner."
His daughter loved how he was always available for her, listening, gently guiding her to make her own choices. He would never affirm nor negate her proposed plans, when he thought it needed adjusting, but would reply thoughtfully with "oh yeah?" prompting her to think options over more thoroughly.
He and Mary shared a keen interest in travel and with her work assignments, they explored the sights of Korea, Germany, England, Colorado, Arizona, Arkansas, Texas, and Kansas, while residing in these areas. As a retired couple they enjoyed several trips to Branson, Missouri, and visits to family in Washington and Hawaii, along with a few cruises to the Caribbean. Of all the places he had lived, Alaska was Larry's favorite. He was at home hunting, fishing, camping and wide-open spaces. He was excited about the adventure of driving the family Winnebago in the 70's, up the unpaved Alcan highway, when changing duty stations from South Carolina to Alaska, for a 2nd tour there. He had hoped to make a third trip and share Alaska's beauty with his devoted bride, Mary, before becoming ill. Their last excursion was a long-anticipated group trip to the Grand Ol' Opry a year ago. Throughout the years, he enjoyed square dancing, family game nights, cards, and Cowboys football. Simple joys pleased him, like growing a veggie garden and raising a bull. He confessed once, he had always wanted to be a farmer. When he was unable to continue hunting and fishing, he took great joy in feeding the deer by his house and the fish in the pond. He was a snack friend with an endless supply of chocolate, popcorn, and cookies on hand. He often asked with a mouthful of cookie, while dinner was being prepared, "How much longer? I'm starving!"
A quiet man with hidden talents, he surprised family who stumbled on his drawings and paintings in a box or caught him playing harmonica by ear or singing along with the radio. He had a good singing voice when he chose to let you hear it. One of his talents was thriftiness. He was known to use a tea bag at least 4 times before discarding it. He was a champion of bargains and haggling during negotiations in a sale was like a sport to him. Whether he wore the seller down or just finagled well, he had a history of making surprisingly great deals.
He had a great sense of humor. Daily he'd chuckle to himself over some little joke or sly play he had made on someone at the kitchen table on game night. Soon everyone else was chuckling along with him. Game nights were filled with banter, quips, one liner, lots of laughter and oh yeah- snacks. He was teased by his children for his silly twisted sayings like "you better start being-have."
He loved us all quietly and strongly and was there for each of us. It is quieter in his absence, but we take some comfort in knowing he is at peace now...and maybe sharing a chuckle with those who went before him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Les and Marty Craven, Helen and Ellis Bailey, his younger brother Marshall Bailey, and beloved pups Rascal and Penny. He is survived and missed deeply by his wife Mary, children Kathy (Kevin) Kaltenbach, Larry Craven Jr, James (Jennifer) Craven, Jenna Lemons, Jerry Beavers, and Mikki (Steven) Allen. He also leaves behind twelve grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Heritage Funeral Home Davis Morris Chapels of Brownwood.
Please view Mr. Craven's online memorial at www.heritagefuneraltx.com