In Memory

Larry Fielding

Larry Fielding

It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce the passing of my father. For the past six months, my Dad's health had been in decline. On the evening of Monday, March 13th, my mom and I held his hands as he peacefully passed at 11:05 pm. The family and I all had an opportunity Monday night to say our farewells before then. As obviously regrettable as this news is to deliver, things went about as well as could ever be hoped for. 

Some of y’all may know, I took a six month sabbatical to Europe about this time last year. When I returned, I moved in with mom and dad, initially just as a staging platform for the next chapter in my life. Dad took me with him on many of his handyman jobs and we soon became a team, installing windows, replacing faucets, patching drywall, and laying tile. Unknown to either of us, my dad had been spending his last six months teaching me everything he could. 

My lasting memory of my father can be summarized in one exchange we had on a jobsite. In a moment of quiet, between soldering copper pipes and checking for leaks, I asked him, “Dad. You know I love you, right? And you know that I know you love me?” My dad, still half sorting through copper elbow fittings said casually, “Son, there’s never been any doubt.” 

Larry’s memorial service will be held in our longtime home of Amarillo, TX at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (1601 S. Georgia) on Friday, March 24 at 3 o’clock. 

Mom and I are still sorting through a lot of emotions. For now, it seems serendipitous that I'm in Austin with her as we work our way from one minute to the next.

Austin Fielding



 
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03/17/17 04:47 PM #1    

Jim Rayburn

 Larry stood up and took the lead in organizing our 31 year class reunion, without him it would've never happened. Our class owes a lot to Larry and will always remember his sacrifice, great sense of humor, and leadership. He will be greatly missed. 


03/18/17 08:35 AM #2    

Lance McIntosh

I worked with Larry on the reunion and booked the band that Larry and I would listen to in Lubbock.  We were roomates two different times in Lubbock and had a great time riding motorcycles and hanging out.  He was a great friend and an all around great guy.  He  was a prankster and a joker and always part of some good stories.  I will miss him.  We always talked about our kids and how they were doing.  He was always proud of Austin and what a fine young man he had become.  He loved his wife dearly and cherished his friends.  I am glad that he was in my life.  Rest in Peace  my friend.


03/19/17 01:46 PM #3    

Linda Linn (Shepard)

This sad news triggered some fond early childhood memories. In 2nd grade I moved into the house on 37th, two doors down from Larry, his family, and their dogs-- Lassie (who was nice) and Heidi (who definitely wasn't; chased me up a fence many times). I won't swear to the dogs' names but stand by the temperament characterizations.

Anyway, Larry and I soon became good friends, and we played together a lot during the elementary school years. He used to pull me around in a Little Red Wagon that we had loaded with my little toy cook stove. We pretended it was our trailer.

 He was my first kiss. We were very young (maybe 8 or 9); I was on the swing in our backyard; he pecked me on the lips; I slapped him; and we went back to whatever we were playing beforehand. I think we both had the impression that's how it was supposed to work based on what we'd seen in (black-and-white) TV shows and movies. At least that's the way I remember it.

The other tributes I've read here tell me that Larry was still the good guy I remember from the old days. Condolences to his family and friends.


03/19/17 08:45 PM #4    

Richard Easley

Larry and I became friends in 9th grade while scrambling on our Yamaha 100 motorcycles at the hills at 45th and Western. Every day after school we would meet and ride with several of the guys from Bonham and Crockett. We learned  to smoke and pop wheelies while having the time of our lives. In high school Larry had the rough handsome look and the girls loved him. We had big times at creek parties on the creeks north of Canyon and northwest of Amarillo until the rancher ran us off (about 50 of us) one night.

I lost touch with Larry after he moved to Lubbock but ran into him at our 20th reunion and felt like we hadn't missed a beat. Picked up like the last 20 years were only yesterday. Larry called me out of the blue about a year and a half ago and we had a great visit. Larry was truly one of the good guys I remember from high school. My condulances to his family.

 

 

 


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