I had the incredible honor of writing my dad’s eulogy for his memorial service last Saturday, July 11th, 2015. I am still in shock that this is my reality. He loved my writing and it was our number one way to communicate with each other. If I was upset with him or needed to express myself, I would put pen to paper. So, here is my written expression of my beautiful dad’s life.

Larry Gene Ross was born into a humble beginning on November 17, 1947 in Lubbock, Texas. He was loved to pieces by his mother, Marie Ross, and was shown what hard work looked like from his father Marvel Ross. His older sister Myra Gresham doted on him and influenced his sense of style as he became a young man. Larry’s childhood on the farm gave him an appreciation for nature and a green thumb that he would use to grow the most beautiful roses one day. Larry loved to bring home stray animals and nurse them back to health. His sister remembers him bringing home a litter of skunks that were abandoned by their mother. He fed them with an eye dropper until they were healthy enough to be set free. That same nurturing Larry would someday tend to the stray, lost, and broken people of his community.

At 14, Larry’s parents decided to move from Texas to Crawford, CO. He had severe hay fever and the doctor urged his father to move his son elsewhere. Larry was able to witness first hand his father’s love and sacrifice for his family. That move caused him to attend Paonia High School where he would fall in love with running. He was quite the track star and excelled in the men’s 800 meter. He held the record of 2 minutes and 8 seconds for 40 years, from 1966-2006. When he entered his junior year of high school he fell head over heels for a strawberry-blonde, beauty queen, by the name of Sandra Tuin. Larry escorted Sandee to the homecoming court where she was crowned queen. From that day on he called Sandee her his princess. The two of them married on September 7, 1969 in Delta, Co. A year later, Larry graduated from Pasadena College majoring in Literature and Communicative Arts with a minor in Physical Education. Immediately following college he signed up for the Air force and served 3 years. During that time he and Sandee brought into the world 2 beautiful children, Kevin and Kimberly. In 1974 Larry exited the Air force and became a P.E. teacher while volunteering as a youth minister alongside Sandee. The two of them found their niche sharing Jesus with the youth and conducting youth choirs. They recorded several albums with their youth choir during their early years of ministry.

In 1977, Larry was called into full-time ministry and began his lifelong passion. He began this journey in Prescott, AZ as a youth pastor where his daughter Kelly was born. Soon after, he and Sandee found themselves in Bend, OR where Larry served as an associate pastor. Larry and Sandee welcomed their 4th child, a son named Kasey, thus completing the Ross’s. Larry had a zest for life, a vision to share Jesus, and a wandering heart. This took him and his family to Arizona where he was able to take on his first head pastor-ship, then residing in Indio, CA where Larry held a pastorate at Las Palmas Church of the Nazarene for 15 years.

In 2007 Larry received a strong nudge from God that it was time to move on to a new adventure. He called the District Superintendent at that time and asked him where in the High Desert he could be sent. The superintendent said, “Well, I have this church in Phelan, but it’s almost dead.” Larry asked, “Are there youth there?” he said “Yes.” Larry replied excitedly, “Great, I will go!” 2 years after accepting that call Larry was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease. Over the next 6 years Larry and Sandee faced some of their toughest years. Sandee kept her job in Indio, CA and the two of them commuted back and forth. God provided them with a beautiful house in Phelan and the little, almost dead, church of 22 began to breathe New Life. He gave this little church confidence and taught it what it truly meant to be the feet and hands of Jesus.

Larry was an amazingly devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He prayed over his family daily. He always sent his kids out the door praying “May the peace that passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” He daily sent texts of affirmation when life seemed daunting. I could spend hours sharing stories and memories of Dad and Poppi, but I wanted to try and give you a glimpse of his character and the memory of who he was.

Dad always took the time to make his daughters feel special. He would take them on dates such as trips to Baskin Robbins ice cream and shopping for a special outfit. He would take his boys, Kevin and Kasey, on excursions where he would teach them to fish and set up camp. As they married he accepted their spouses as his own. As Dad and Poppi he made sure he was at every child and grandchild’s milestones; such as birth, special sport events, graduations, and baptisms. He loved to invest in his kids’ lives by coaching little league, basketball, and track. Dad was an avid runner, disciplined athlete, and sports enthusiast. He desperately loved cheering on his beloved Broncos. He used many illustrations at the pulpit in relation to football and sports. His second love in life to sports was music. He grew up listening to the Gaither Vocal band. When he met mom he fit right in to her own musical family which in turn allowed them to create 4 children who all could sing. Our family spent most of our childhood traveling the western United States singing and sharing the Love of Jesus. Mom and Dad spent their entire marriage and ministry cultivating a love for music in every youth they met. Through the years Dad found that he enjoyed gift giving. It was his love language. He would shower Mom with spontaneous packages or poems. He would bring us home stuffed animals for Easter or birthdays. As he became a grandpa, aka Poppi, he turned his attention to loving on his grandkids. Dad had what my brother Kevin calls, “Santa Claus Syndrome.” Every Christmas he gave above and beyond what Mom would deem sane. He would anticipate Christmas morning and shower us with gifts. He also exemplified compassion and generosity to us by adopting a family in need and allowing the entire family to participate in giving gifts. He always tried to plan a special outing whether it be taking the family skiing, a trip to the tram or horseback riding at a nearby neighboring stable. Dad went to great lengths to be sure our family and those around him knew he loved them. He would always hug you, tell you “you are special,” and take the time to listen to the need you had. He was a man who sought after God’s own heart and believed wholeheartedly that God was in control of our circumstances.

My dad was only 67 years old when he fell and broke his vertebrae causing him to be completely paralyzed. As a pastor and son of parents having been in convalescent care, he witnessed firsthand the pain, sorrow, and financial stress of a family member in long term care. When Dad was faced with living on a breathing and feeding tube forever, he chose Jesus. We are still in awe at his bravery to say goodbye and in his last hour he told us he was sad to leave us, but we know that one day we will all meet again. He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.