Larry Richard Spurling of Sedro-Woolley, WA passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on March 19, 2016. He was 74 years of age.

Larry was the second son of Ernie and Marie Spurling and was born at Memorial Hospital in Sedro-Woolley on August 9, 1941.

Larry attended Central Elementary and as a child was nicknamed “Curly” because of his curly hair. Having six uncles Larry had a childhood filled with family and many cousin playmates. Some of his favorite childhood memories included church picnics, going roller skating, playing the piano, fishing and faithfully watching Bonanza with his family every Sunday night. In the summer Larry loved family camping trips to Samish Island, Birch Bay and Deception Pass. He also looked forward to church camp on Orcas Island. As he grew older Larry spent summers mowing lawns, cutting and stacking firewood and delivering a weekly newspaper called Grit, in Sedro-Woolley.

Larry participated in the school choir and 4-H. A highlight for him was doing a 4-H project on electricity. He made a large wood cow and labeled the parts of the cow.  If you took two cooper wires and touched the right part to the right name the cow’s eyes lit up. This project sent him to the State Championship in Yakima. He took 1st place and had a chance to go to nationals in Chicago.

Singing was another passion for Larry; he sang in church and joined choir clubs throughout his life. He joined the Sedro-Woolley Choir and a formal barbershop quartet in Anacortes. Even after moving to Portland, he continued to sing with the Tualatin Valley Harmony Masters for several years.

Larry graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School in 1959. After high school, Larry went to Bellingham Technical College and took a 2 year machinist course and basic carpentry.  He started to work for Skagit Steel and Iron works in their machine shop. In 1963 he married Linda Thompson and in 1964 they would welcome their only child Rebecca Jean Spurling.  Several years later and following his divorce Larry started working for U.S. Steel and Pacific Car and Foundry in Seattle, WA in 1968. In 1969 Larry moved to Portland, OR and enrolled in the drafting program at Portland Community College.  Larry did drafting for fish hatcheries, fish ladders, dry-docks and doing the electrical design for dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Also during this time Larry met and married his second wife Evelyn Darlene Adams.

Later in life Larry would dedicate a majority of his free time to researching, compiling and sharing information about his family history. He traced family blood-lines to the 1700’s and made several trips to Tennessee and Missouri to gather more information. This was a passion he shared with his brother Ken.

In 2000 Larry and Evelyn retired and moved to Caldwell, ID. There Larry became involved in the foster grandparent program. He volunteered to help children in all subjects of academics at various schools in the Caldwell area. He became “Grandpa Larry” to many children and teachers alike, his volunteer service brought him much joy. In the summer Larry would continue his service helping at local libraries with their summer reading programs.

In January 2014 Evelyn passed away and Larry moved back to live with family in Skagit County. As his health declined he moved to the Life Care Center in Sedro-Woolley where he stayed until his passing. Moving back to Sedro-Woolley brought so much joy for him; he reconnected with friends and family and thoroughly enjoyed watching and playing with his great grandchildren.

Larry is survived by his daughter, Rebecca Jean Eargood of Oak Harbor, WA; his brother, Kenneth Spurling and his wife Eva of Silverdale, WA; three grandchildren, Stephanie & James Morgareidge, of Concrete, WA, Josh Eargood of Wyoming, MI and Justin and Fu Larson of Milpitas, CA; two great-grandchildren; Nephews Ryan and Clay Spurling and many loving cousins.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents Ernest Spurling and Leona Marie Jones. Uncles, Herbert Jones, Marvin Harmon, and Arthur, Edwin, Lonnie, Earl, Howard and Glen Spurling. Aunt, Marguerite Davis. Maternal Grandparents, Zelma Harmon and Louis Jones; Paternal Grandparents, William Spurling and Emily Cross.

Graveside Services will be held on Monday March 28, 2016 at 3:00pm at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Viewing will be available on Thursday and Friday March 24th and 25th from 9am to 5pm at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley.

The family would like to thank the dedicated staff at the Life Care Center of Sedro-Woolley for all their efforts, a big thanks to Margery Bennett for always being his advocate and to Joanne who brought so much joy to his life!