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Raleigh, NC – Currie “LaMarr” Bunn passed away Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at UNC Rex Hospital after complications from pneumonia and COVID. LaMarr was born in Edgecombe County, NC, on August 4, 1943, the only child of Luther Lamar Bunn and Mabel Currie Brown Bunn, both of whom preceded him in death.
After graduating from Needham B. Broughton High School in 1961, he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from the School of Design at NC State University in 1966. Remaining in Raleigh, he was one of the first employees hired by Lewis Clarke (FALSA) and worked with Lewis from 1965 to 1969. As a landscape architect and land planner, he designed the plans for large scale golf resorts and communities, such as Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island, SC, and Carolina Trace in Sanford, NC. He also worked on plans for large malls such as Tyson’s Corner and Landover Mall in Washington, DC. He later moved to Miami, FL, to plan golf courses and developments in Florida, Australia, Mexico, California, the Bahamas, and the Florida Keys. After moving to DC, he contributed to the development of large communities in Denver (The Pinery), Salt Lake City (Stansbury Park), New Orleans (Belle Terre), and Maryland (Village of Lake Linganor).
Returning to Raleigh, he worked with Jerry Turner & Associates on the Master Plan for the NC Zoo in Asheboro, NC. Moving again, he was the land planner for the Hidden Hills Community in Jacksonville, FL. For a year, he taught Landscape Architecture and Urban Design at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. Returning to Raleigh, he developed the Master Plan for Stonehenge Development and Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh as well as the rehabilitation plan for the Great Lawn in Central Park in NYC. In addition to larger projects, he worked with many homeowners to create special planting plans for their residences.
He took pride in his involvement with the professional organizations helping to develop next-generation landscape architects. He served in various capacities with the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB). The conventions of those associations allowed him the opportunity to participate in two of his favorite activities: travel and snow skiing. Travel included regular trips to Myrtle Beach, SC, for SOS (Shagging on the Sand). He also was a significant supporter of his beloved NC State University with season tickets that allowed him to tailgate with style at nearly every football and basketball game.
He is survived by his son, Kevin LaMarr Bunn of Houston, TX, and daughter, Kristin LaMarr Bunn of Salt Lake City, UT, and Kevin's son, Nicholas Steven Bunn of Raleigh, NC. Family and friends are very appreciative of the care and attention that former wives, Judy Tripp Wright and Carol Kimball Stahl gave to LaMarr for the last five years of his life.
He is also survived by numerous friends and business associates who became friends. His Phi Kappa Tau fraternity brothers were frequent visitors who would take him to lunch and visit during his too often stays at rehabilitation facilities due to declining health. Family also thanks the residents at Berkeley Spring apartments for giving him their friendship and attention, thus extending the time he was able to remain in independent living. All will miss him.
The interment of his cremains will be in the Memorial Garden at St. Michael’s Church in Raleigh during a private ceremony.
The family requests that any donations be made in his name to one of the following organizations or to one of your choice. The fund established by the American Society of Landscape Architects enables the ASLA to send students to their annual conventions: https://donorbox.org/2024studentcampaign
The NCSU College of Design has a Landscape Architecture Fund for Excellence that accepts donations to enhance its service to its students: https://give.ncsu.edu/design
Acknowledgement of his pride in these two organizations would be most appreciated.
Funeral arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com
https://www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Currie-Lamarr-Bunn?obId=30074480
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Charles Winton
LaMarr was contracted to do the landscape design for the expansion of an upscale gated community near where I lived in Jacksonville, Florida, sometime in the late 70's early 80's. It is a gorgeous property named Hidden Hills. LaMarr was in town for a short period of time with his then wife Judy (nee Tripp). We were all part of the Symphonic and Marching band crew, so my wife De An and I knew both fairly well. It might have been trhough the developer, who I was acquainted with, but somehow they heard we were living in the area, which led to us reconnecting during the short period they were in Jacksonville. The develoiper for Hidden Hills had also developed the neighborhood I lived in so it was pretty obvious that LaMarr had a reputation for doing quality work. Now over 50 years old, Hidden Hills has remained a highly coveted community, a testament to LaMarr's work. It was good to catch up with them and reminisce about all the fun times we had in the band. I'm sorry to hear his marriage to Judy didn't last, but am happy to hear she remained in his life as evidenced by her presence near his end.
Julian Taylor
Our condolences and our best to Carol and Judy.I was fortunate enough to be his Phi Tau Pledge Brother and Brother at NCSU after finishing together at NBHS.
We doubledated quiet a bit. He was kind enough to be In our Wedding and he and Judy even showed up to
visit us on our honeymoon
I probably last saw him at Crawleys the night of a basketball game.
Rest in Peace old friend.
Family be consoled with his legacy and memory.
Jerrie and Julian Taylor
James D. (Cappie) Gower
So sorry to read of LaMarrs passing and my sincere condolences to his family.
Went down to Atlantic Beach a few times with him and Wayne Underhill, and remember his mom calling him "bunny" one time and Wayne and I never let him forget the nick name. Don't think we were not threatened about sharing with his other friends as best as I can remember.
Ran into him from time to time at SOS and at the Embers and Jokers 3 clubs in Raleigh.
His work ethics and career was a testament to his professionalism and love of the design projects he created.
Sorry he did not make the 62nd reunion, would have been great to say hello to a friend from Broughton.
RIP LaMarr.
Jim Gower
John Shelburne
So sorry to hear about LaMarr---he and I were in the same Boy Scout troop--the highlight of those years was the trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch in NM--backpacking in the mountains, so high up that there was snow sometimes, even though this was July---LaMarr's father took off from his job to organize and lead our expedition, including hiking with us---he too was a wonderful man---like father, like son. --John Shelburne