Larry died December 19,1996. He and Johnny died on exactly the same day just one month and 4 years apart. They would have found that ironic considering how close they were.
Larry took his role of big brother very much to heart. I don't remember this, but I was told that even before we went to the mansion Larry took care of us. He would open a can of soup, stand on a chair at the stove then heat it.
In 1972 our mother had a birthday party for Larry. Along with all the family, Larry's best friend, Lonnie Sowell and his girlfriend attended. Lonnie took one look at me and decided he wanted to date me. That might have been OK with me, but did he have to tell his girlfriend while they were still at the party?! And then tell Larry and me too!! Anyway, Larry let Lonnie know he might be his best friend, but he had better watch his step with "his baby sister". Big brother at work is the bumper sticker I should have made up for my car. I loved his protectiveness even though I never told him.
Larry spent 6 years in the army raising to the rank of Sargent. All those years in the mansion was good for what lay in store; getting up at the crack of dawn, mowing the grass (in the summer) and the myriad of things the teenage boys were required to do.
After our mother died Larry took the role of patriarch of the family. Regardless of time of day,circumstance or weather when one of us needed him he was there. I remember one time in 1986 my husband was laid off just a few months after we had bought a new car. Since we could not afford the payments we let the car go. After being out of work for several months my husband had an opportunity to interview for a company in NM. Larry still lived in Dallas at the time. He offered to drive up here (400 miles one way) then drive Bob out to NM for the interview. I told him I appreciated the offer, but we still had my mother-in-law's van.
One of Larry's greatest passions was watching the Dallas Cowboys play football. I'm not sure which he enjoyed more, the game or calling Johnny every time they made a "dumb play" or the referee called a stupid foul. I think they raced to the phone to call each other before the other one could call first. I enjoy watching the Cowboys too, but it was Johnny Larry called.
Larry and his family moved up here for a short while so we got to see each other regularly. I remember one time I went over to the house, Larry wanted to show me something- a gerbil. I couldn't believe it; there was my big brother cuddling a rodent! Don't get me wrong, I like gerbils, but never in my wildest imagination would I have dreamed that. Once, I had bought my nephews a rabbit and Larry said the only good thing about a rabbit was stew. Larry was a Texan through and through, know what he named the rabbit? Dallas!
Larry was a good husband, father and brother. He loved his family and was very proud of his sons.
It was Larry's and mine's fondest wish to have (what we called) an old fashioned family Thanksgiving with all our siblings and their families. We never got to have it. So here's to you, Larry and Johnny and the Jennings. May there always be a Jennings to keep the name alive. I love you, Big Brother and miss you very much.
Thanks, Joy, for sharing a family love story. I am sorry I never got to know Larry as an adult. I know we would have gotten along. I love football! I really don't care for the Dallas cowboys so I know that we would have fun picking on each other. I can see how much you cared for him.
Patsy, I too am sorry you didn't get the chance to know Larry as an adult. Yes, it would have been fun watching you pick at each other over the Cowboys. I miss him so much. You know people always say to someone when they've lost a loved one that God needed them more for some reason than we did. Well, God must have really needed Larry because his sons needed him a lot. It's never a good time for a child to lose a parent, but when that child really is still a child it's even worse.
Thanks, for the thought, Pats. It's hard when you think someone you love has been forgotten by everyone other than their family.
TO THE GREAT JENNINGS FAMILY, MY FRIEND AND YOUR BROTHER ,I REMEMEBER TO BE A WONDERFUL PERSON, I KNOW YOU MISS HIM,BUT REMEMBER HE IS WITH A WONDERFUL GOD, THAT LOVED HIM MORE THAN WE COULD EVER LOVE HIM,LOVE YOU ALL
I only knew Larry when the Mansion visited Bloomington, Illinois for Christmas in 1965 and 1966. Larry was a great friend during those visits. It was great to read about the grown up Larry on here. Thanks for posting. I'm sure he is greatly missed.
Joy Jennings (Young)
Larry took his role of big brother very much to heart. I don't remember this, but I was told that even before we went to the mansion Larry took care of us. He would open a can of soup, stand on a chair at the stove then heat it.In 1972 our mother had a birthday party for Larry. Along with all the family, Larry's best friend, Lonnie Sowell and his girlfriend attended. Lonnie took one look at me and decided he wanted to date me. That might have been OK with me, but did he have to tell his girlfriend while they were still at the party?! And then tell Larry and me too!! Anyway, Larry let Lonnie know he might be his best friend, but he had better watch his step with "his baby sister". Big brother at work is the bumper sticker I should have made up for my car. I loved his protectiveness even though I never told him.
Larry spent 6 years in the army raising to the rank of Sargent. All those years in the mansion was good for what lay in store; getting up at the crack of dawn, mowing the grass (in the summer) and the myriad of things the teenage boys were required to do.
After our mother died Larry took the role of patriarch of the family. Regardless of time of day,circumstance or weather when one of us needed him he was there. I remember one time in 1986 my husband was laid off just a few months after we had bought a new car. Since we could not afford the payments we let the car go. After being out of work for several months my husband had an opportunity to interview for a company in NM. Larry still lived in Dallas at the time. He offered to drive up here (400 miles one way) then drive Bob out to NM for the interview. I told him I appreciated the offer, but we still had my mother-in-law's van.
One of Larry's greatest passions was watching the Dallas Cowboys play football. I'm not sure which he enjoyed more, the game or calling Johnny every time they made a "dumb play" or the referee called a stupid foul. I think they raced to the phone to call each other before the other one could call first. I enjoy watching the Cowboys too, but it was Johnny Larry called.
Larry and his family moved up here for a short while so we got to see each other regularly. I remember one time I went over to the house, Larry wanted to show me something- a gerbil. I couldn't believe it; there was my big brother cuddling a rodent! Don't get me wrong, I like gerbils, but never in my wildest imagination would I have dreamed that. Once, I had bought my nephews a rabbit and Larry said the only good thing about a rabbit was stew. Larry was a Texan through and through, know what he named the rabbit? Dallas!
Larry was a good husband, father and brother. He loved his family and was very proud of his sons.
It was Larry's and mine's fondest wish to have (what we called) an old fashioned family Thanksgiving with all our siblings and their families. We never got to have it. So here's to you, Larry and Johnny and the Jennings. May there always be a Jennings to keep the name alive. I love you, Big Brother and miss you very much.
Patsy Jordan (Larson)
Thanks, Joy, for sharing a family love story. I am sorry I never got to know Larry as an adult. I know we would have gotten along. I love football! I really don't care for the Dallas cowboys so I know that we would have fun picking on each other. I can see how much you cared for him.Joy Jennings (Young)
Patsy, I too am sorry you didn't get the chance to know Larry as an adult. Yes, it would have been fun watching you pick at each other over the Cowboys. I miss him so much. You know people always say to someone when they've lost a loved one that God needed them more for some reason than we did. Well, God must have really needed Larry because his sons needed him a lot. It's never a good time for a child to lose a parent, but when that child really is still a child it's even worse.Thanks, for the thought, Pats. It's hard when you think someone you love has been forgotten by everyone other than their family.
God Bless You and Your family.
Clifton Parker
TO THE GREAT JENNINGS FAMILY, MY FRIEND AND YOUR BROTHER ,I REMEMEBER TO BE A WONDERFUL PERSON, I KNOW YOU MISS HIM,BUT REMEMBER HE IS WITH A WONDERFUL GOD, THAT LOVED HIM MORE THAN WE COULD EVER LOVE HIM,LOVE YOU ALLCLIFTON PARKER
Kenneth Gastineau
I only knew Larry when the Mansion visited Bloomington, Illinois for Christmas in 1965 and 1966. Larry was a great friend during those visits. It was great to read about the grown up Larry on here. Thanks for posting. I'm sure he is greatly missed.