Larry Delbert Parsons

Larry Delbert Parsons, age 91, passed away peacefully in his home on September 27th after a 9 month battle with cancer. Larry was born on May 17th 1933 to Eugene O. Parsons and Merlyn Yeakley Parsons in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a graduate of Pembroke Country Day School in Kansas City as well as the University of Kansas, receiving a degree in engineering. Prior to attending the University of Kansas, Larry served in the Army from 1953 to 1955. 

A chance car accident in 1956 that hospitalized him also led Larry to the love of his life, his nurse, Sharon Slaven. The two were married the following year, on August 25th 1957 in Cawker City, Kansas and had one child, Michele Marie.

He worked as a metallurgical engineer for Wright Patterson AFB for close to 30 years. He retired to his family’s farm in 1988. In his retirement, he enjoyed boarding horses on his farm in Kansas as well as indulging his wife’s passion for the University of Kansas basketball by becoming perennial season ticket holders. While he also enjoyed traveling the world with his family from Alaska to the Mediterranean to Russia and back, his true retirement passion was woodworking. He got so much joy our out of creating wooden toys for not only his own grandchildren but a myriad of adopted grandchildren whether they be neighborhood kids of children of friends and family. 

Outside of woodworking, his greatest joy was his grandchildren. Nothing made him prouder than watching his granddaughter score a goal in soccer or his grandson stop a shot in hockey. He moved to Nashville in his final year of life to spend more time with his family and be a permanent fixture at their sporting and school events. He was always their biggest fan.

Larry spent his life spreading joy through his woodworking, thoughtfulness, jokes and conversation. Anyone who met Larry was a friend for life because to know him was to love him. 

He is survived by his daughter Michele, his grandchildren Greyson and Quinn and his brother Paul “Toppy” Parsons. He is preceded in death by his mother, father, wife, grandson Aydan and his sister Merlyn “Tippy” McMorris. His funeral will be held on November 2nd at 2:00PM at Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in his honor to either The March of Dimes North Central Florida Chapter or St Luke’s College of Health Sciences Merlyn Y Parsons Scholarship (In memory of Larry Parsons) 624 Westport Road, Kansas City Missouri 64111.