Larry W Larsen's Obituary
Larry Wayne Larsen
“Mr. 202”
July 3, 1945 - August 24, 2014
On August 24, 2014, “Mr. 202”, 69, quietly turned his big rig onto the
Highway to Heaven and waved goodbye after suffering a severe stroke on
August 3, 2014. There to see him make the turn was his loving and
devoted wife, best friend, and soul mate Sherrie, his co-driver Reyna
Puppy, and close friends Mark and Lisa Carlson. Larry was born in Tampa,
FL on July 3, 1945 to Edna Hart-Wilson and Alfred McCall and adopted at
the age of 18 months by the only dad he ever knew, Ray Larsen. His
younger years were spent between Florida and St. Paul, MN. Larry used to
joke that it was his time growing up in Florida that gave him a love of pink
flamingoes. So much so that there are currently about 50 or so flamingoes
residing on the front lawn of his and Sherrie’s home. In 1958, when in 8th
grade, Larry followed his dad out to Tacoma, WA and graduated in 1963
from Stadium High School. Over the years and a couple of marriages later
Larry would eventually find the love of his life, Sherrie, in 1996 when she
came to work as a driver at MacMillan-Piper Co., Inc. (MMP) in Tacoma.
Together for 17 years, Mr. 202 and Mrs. 909 were inseparable and they
quickly became regular fixtures, along with 202’s co-driver, Reyna Puppy,
on the Tacoma waterfront and where one was the other wasn’t far behind.
Larry was a very kind, generous man and always willing to help any new
driver that came along at MMP as well as those people he had known and
worked with forever. He loved to wind bag which earned him the title “King
of the Wind Baggers” and he taught quite a few drivers that fine art. As
friends have said, wind baggin’, snibblin’ and getting the gravy ladle just
won’t be the same with Mr. 202 gone. In a truck driving career that
spanned 40+ years Larry worked as a driver for companies such as
Tacoma Screw Products-Seattle, UPS, Creager Trucking-Seattle, Gunter
Brothers, and Rucker Brothers Trucking-Tacoma. In 1978 he became an
O/O buying his first truck and reefer while driving at Inco Express. 1984
began Larry’s time on the waterfront hauling shipping containers when he
signed on with Falcon Express which would eventually become FarWest
Trucking. In 1989 he moved his truck to MacMillan-Piper Co., Inc. where
he has had a spot ever since. In his off time Larry enjoyed attending cutting
horse shows with Sherrie and was her biggest fan and supporter. He also
loved spending time with his grand children, gardening (especially dahlias
and tomatoes), taking naps, going on road trips, fishing and hunting with
his friend John Philbrick, was a TV junkie, and wind bagging his many friends, especially Greg Wolfe, Scott Diener, and John Lane.
Larry was preceded in passing by his mom, Edna Hart-Wilson and dad, Ray Larsen. Surviving Larry are his wife, Sherrie; co-driver Reyna Puppy; step-son Eugene P. Henkel, III (Shannon); step-daughters Shar Jasper (Brad) and Chrissy Falk; brothers-in-law Tim Phipps (Rhonda) and Troy Phipps (Eli). Sister-in-law Wendy Mills (Ethan); mother-in-law and father-in-law Judy and Buster Smith; mother-in-law Tina Phipps; several grandchildren; special family Phil and Shelly Bindon and the 3 Banshees; cousin Fred Swanson, along with many more nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, family, and two daughters, Cherie and Lynette.
A special thank you to the TG Neuroscience ICU and Stroke Unit Team 1, Dr. Andrew Loomis, and the staff at Orchard Park Health and Rehab. Your caring and thoughtfulness made Larry’s last days a little easier to bear. Words cannot express the profound sense of loss that Larry’s passing has left in our world. There will never be another “202”.
Please join us for a celebration of Larry’s life on Saturday, Sept. 13th, 12:00 p.m. at the Mountain View Celebration of Life Center - Aspen Chapel, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, WA 98499.
What’s your fondest memory of Larry?
What’s a lesson you learned from Larry?
Share a story where Larry's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Larry you’ll never forget.
How did Larry make you smile?