Larry Gene McCormick

Larry Gene McCormick, born Nov. 29, 1936, in Delta, Utah, beloved lover of all, old man, dad, uncle, grandpa, great -grandpa, friend, and advocate, surrounded by friends and family, trembled the spirit world with a lengthy visit on the Dec. 22, 2018, at 12:12 a.m. where he was likely joined by his wife Derell Arlene (Winans), parents John Vittitow McCormick and DeEsta Gladys Greene McCormick, and his brother Vernon (Skip) McCormick who preceded him.

Services will be held at the LDS stake center located on Schweitzer Cutoff Road, Sandpoint, on Jan. 26, 2019, at 11 a.m.

In his younger years Larry liked a “good” fight as he attended and graduated from high school in 1954, at Hailey Idaho, where he also met his soon-to-be father-in-law, who told him in no uncertain terms that he was not to set foot on the front porch again! At age 17, he looked at “Frenchy” and then at his wife-to-be Derell (age15) and said, “See you tomorrow.” They were married in September of that year.

His thirst for fight mellowed as he took to work in San Diego, Calif., Klamath Falls, Ore., Carson City and Reno Nev., Mountain Home, Idaho, and finally settling in Sandpoint on Selle Road (42 years) after a short stay up Rapid Lighting Creek to warm up the small cabin homestead up there for his soon-to-follow parents, as well his brothers Dale (Mae) and Gordon (Sharon).

McCormick Bros. Construction was formed, and contributed to urban sprawl, with an LDS church, and Condo Del Sol, Fenton complex, and Chapin suites to name a few etc. in Sandpoint area. As did his brothers individually supervise construction, Larry did also. Before his retirement he commuted to Spokane daily for 10 years to supervise with Lydig Construction to include a year stint in Wrangle, Alaska.

Shrieks were heard by his children as his wife one day was informed of the fruition of a conspiracy laid by Larry and his brothers to purchase a first-ever-for-Sandpoint sail plane: a two-seater Russian designed Blanik glider for $10,000. A dark cloud formed over the house as Derell further became aware that they had to tow the thing somehow, and that a used Piper Super Cub was purchased and meticulously restored by grown men who passionately ignored their families (for a time), but who also soon enjoined them in “co-pilot” flights, and in turn all were duly terrorized, especially when in mid-flight Larry would exclaim, “You’ve got the stick!”

Being a wavy haired red-head, Larry mourned when he heard Danny Kay had passed, and could always be heard singing his beloved singers Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, and loved the musicals of that era. Larry had a talent for art which he never pursued except to dabble here and there and to be constantly doodling on napkins and cards. He self-taught himself to play the piano after work and family dinner and sometimes well into the wee morning hours, occasionally to the annoyance of his children who had school the next day. As many did in his day, he carried his rifles around on a rack in the rear window of the cab of the truck during hunting season, he hunted often with his dad and brothers. The same herd would camp together, sometimes in the most remote primitive areas possible, thus contributing to his son’s contrivance of having seen bigfoot tracks. Larry loved to ski with his immediate and extended family, and his kids would often hang by the phone as he called his brothers about “hitting the hill” during storms that precluded school or work.

He insisted the kids not wash his work thermos with soap as it ruined his appreciation for coffee which he enjoyed, during work, and especially when sitting around the table, enjoying people. None seem to recall him ever talking poorly about anyone.

He had a deep love of his children and was a giver. He taught by doing, and felt people gleaned more out of experience with hands-on learning, often pulling his children under a car to help fix a problem, or to insist while building something that you never do it “half-assed” as he’d say. He gave of his joy, his heart, and of himself to the last breath. Before that sacred moment however, he argued with the Grim Reaper on multiple occasions through a brain aneurism, knee and hip surgeries, a stroke, heart surgery, broken neck, all to the astonishment and statements of “miracles” by the doctors and nurses.

He is survived by his brothers, Dale (Mae) McCormick and Gordon (Sharon) McCormick; his sons, Ronald G. McCormick (Tom Devaroom), Michael McCormick, and Aaron McCormick; his daughter, Shawna (David) Hines; 19 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; and multiple nieces and nephews.

His legacy is love, friendship, fun, and resilient zest for life — pursuits that live on in the lives of his begotten.