Larry E. Magee's Obituary
On June 6, 2020, Larry Edgar Magee passed away peacefully at the age of 70 at Madigan Army Medical Center in Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington after a short battle with cancer.
Larry was born on May 27, 1950 in Montebello, California to Nathan and Nora Magee. He was the second of nine children & eldest son. He truly treasured being part of a large family. Larry grew up throughout southern California and Oklahoma, where he learned metal scrapping, farming, construction, and the value of hard work. He briefly attended Okmulgee Tech in Oklahoma before enlisting in the US Army and serving in Vietnam. Following his tour in Vietnam, he re-enlisted in the US Army and served throughout the world as a Chaplain’s Assistant. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland and retired as a Master Sergeant. It was during his service that he met his first wife, Hong Yi with whom he had his children, Nathan II, Lisa, and Sofia. Larry continued to move throughout the US while working as a Government Contract Specialist, a career he continued until 2019. Larry also had an entrepreneurial spirit and operated his own businesses. In 2014, during a visit to Washington to spend time with his children and grandchildren, he met Susan Horton and they later married in Corpus Christi, TX. He returned to Lakewood, WA where he remained until his death.
Larry was known for being a charmer with an easy smile. He loved to laugh and made jokes until the very end. He loved nothing more than helping his family and friends. Larry was a lifetime learner. He was a jack of all trades. He could fix almost anything and loved to build things. He was an avid gardener and could grow an enviable vegetable garden. He enjoyed traveling and going on road trips to one of his time shares, going to Belize, and visiting the ocean, especially during his later years with his beloved Susan. Larry loved to start and engage in a healthy debate on almost any subject. He loved his mom’s cream pies, a good bowl of chili, BBQ’d filet mignon, and fresh fruit picked right from the family trees.
Larry often quoted Psalms 90:10 during his last days and was determined to live until his 70th birthday surrounded by family. Larry was proceeded in death by his parents Nathan & Nora, sister Patricia, & nieces Karen and Kearra. He is survived by his wife Susan, his children Nathan II, Lisa & Sofia, his grandchildren Sya, Leah, Seth, & Gabriella. He is survived by brothers and sisters Sue, Mike, Dave, Richard, Dennis, Elizabeth, & Robin, their spouses, step-children Leavitt & Makala, as well as a large family of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, and cousins.
Services for Larry will be held at Mountainview Funeral Home on July 10, 2020 @ 12:30 pm with internment to follow at 3:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at www.pancan.org.
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?
