Larry Dean Forney

Larry Dean Forney, of Branson West, MO, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, June 21, 2025, after a long, courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was born on August 02, 1948, in Kansas City, MO, to Arthur and Mary Helen (Springstube) Forney. He graduated from Northeast High School in 1966 and went on to attend junior college before enlisting in the US Navy. Larry honorably served his country from 1969-1973 as a member of Patrol Squadron 22 (VP22), The Blue Geese. His duties as a radar operator on the P3 Orion anti-submarine aircraft earned him the prestigious Air Medal service award. Larry was very proud of his service and maintained very close friendships with many of the men he served with. When he returned from his active-duty enlistment, Larry enrolled in the University of Missouri at Rolla where he met the love of his life, Elizabeth Beckemeyer, whom he married on August 20, 1977. Larry graduated from UMR with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. Larry and Liz were blessed with two wonderful children, Adam and Amy. Larry worked as a civil engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers in Kansas City before transferring to the Federal Highway Administration, where he retired after 25 years of service. After retirement he drove a school bus for a bit, this was more a social endeavor, getting to chit chat with the other retirees as well as the morning coffee club they had. Larry did not idle well, so even though he was retired, he began working for the Iowa Department of Transportation helping with the design of several road projects in the state. He retired for good 5 years later. Larry and Liz owned 22 acres of grassland in Colo, Iowa, where he would often go pheasant hunting with his faithful Vizsla hunting dogs, Ilsa and Rick who were named after characters of his favorite movie, Casablanca. In 2015 Larry and Liz moved back to Missouri to their forever home overlooking Table Rock Lake in Branson West. They enjoyed the retirement life and slower pace that Branson West offered them. Larry was an active member of the Tri Lakes Corvette Club, often participating in parades and fun rides in his beloved Corvette. Larry loved spending time with his family, classmates, friends and especially his Navy buddies who visited from all over the country. He is preceded in death by his parents, two half sisters, Georgia Sue Pursley and Janet Thacker as well as his beloved dogs Ilsa, Rick and Petey. Larry is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Liz, son Adam, daughter Amy Myers and husband Joel, grandchildren Cooper, Cannon and Georgia, nephews Jeffrey and Jon Thacker as well as other extended family and countless friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Warrior's Watch Riders (1175 W Oakville, Rd. Springfield, MO. 65810) or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741 or at www.give.michaeljfox.org). A Memorial Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 02, 2025, from 12- 2 p.m. followed by a graveside service at 3:00 p.m. at Missouri Veterans Cemetery where Larry will take his final motorcycle ride with the Warrior's Watch Riders.