It WAS a party!

...Yes, it was.

..and while I was hand-shaking and greeting his friends, not a single story was duplicated..and oh, were there stories!

It seems all who knew him, loved him.

They all laughed with him, worked with him, cowboyed with him and drank with him..

And they are all better for knowing him...

And they will all miss him, but are looking forward to that day when he'll once again cook us breakfast, tell us a story, make us laugh and toast to our health and happiness...

This is the group that had a sleep-over at my sister Gerri's house afterwards -

Gerri, Kathy' and her son Dan and his two, Zachary & Katrina and my grandson Brian and his girly-friend, Tessa..and of course Owen and Molly..{not necessarily in that order...}

Beautiful day!

Katrina's first time working with the horses :-)

He would have been so happy for the way the day turned out....I know we all were..

This was my toast at the party :

"Before he was a Marine, before he was a husband, before he was a father & a grandfather, he was our brother…

...Larry, this is for you:

Kind family and friends please join me in rhyme

Come lift up your voices in chorus with mine.

Come drink and be merry

Turning grief to good cheer.

'Till we stand with him

Again drawing near.

Here's health to his family

His sons and a lass.

We hold up a pint

And all share from one glass.

Let us smile & remember

Turning grief to delight.

Till that day when we see him

And again hold him tight.

Here's health to his heirs

That he adored without doubt.

Their love and their bond

He could not live without.

Never failing his friends

Always there to give aid

Always loving his family

Let his memory not fade

His ship has set sail

We prayed for smooth seas

And soft winds prevail,

'Till Heaven he sees..

When we leave here to meet him

Whether by land or by sea

May you never forget

His affection for thee."

We love you, Larry and will always smile at the mention of your name :-)

-me