1957: I met an 18 year old boy named Larry , 6 ft. tall, thin, black hair, wearing western attire, looking like Elvis. At least I thought he did!

I was working at a diner in N.J. where he came in to eat on a regular basis.

Little did I know, he was interested in me, as I also was in him.

We dated and fell in love.

We got engaged on May 30, 1958, and married on July 4, 1959.

Larry has always been a truck driver.

His interests are providing for his family, trains, koala bears, trucks, eating peanuts, and John Wayne.

In 1938, the only child of Lawrence and Elsie was born.

In 1943, Larry and his dad were left to live on their own; grandma came to help care for 5 yr. old Larry. She stayed until Larry and I married.

Neighbors and friends helped raise Larry, but he learned to take care of himself at a very early age.

He hung out with older truckers; I guess that is how or why he became a trucker himself.

Larry is now retired and no longer can drive his trucks. Auguest 2000 is was digonosed with C-M-T a clrippling nerve disorder.

My Dad?s bigger then your dad.      As most kids say growing up, but I could boast and know it was probably true. I had to warn all my friends before they came into my house that he was ?really big?. My dad is the tall, dark, silent type standing over 6? tall. I never needed to put him on a pedestal for he always will tower over me. He was always so strong lifting me all the way to the ceiling with just one hand. It took all my weight just to lower his hand on the arm of his chair. This big strong man has always shown me his strengths. And as we grow older I realize it is far more than physical. He is an honest, loyal, loving man with great hard work ethics. He tried to teach us kids right from wrong sometimes by telling stories or lines like ?If you can?t say anything nice, don?t say anything at all.? I took in all that he said as his words are few with lots of thought behind them. I must admit some of them took years to make since to me but I think that was part of his way to make us think about what were going on and our actions. His big ring of keys was some thing I loved to sit on his lap and play with. I would make him tell me what each one was for. I knew he must be important for someone to entrust him with them all. I wonder now if he knows he held the most important one that was the key to my heart. Mom always told me I had a special place for just him ?Daddy?s little girl?. I still look up to him to this day. Although he had a limited formal education, he is one of the smartest people I know. He is wise to worldly ways and if you take the time to talk he knows a lot about most subjects. I felt so good the day he told me he thought he had done well for what life had handed him and had no regrets. I hope I could live such a life that I could be proud of what I had done and how I had treated others. The years and age have started to take its toll on him. I reflect on gentle giant in my life. With his soft spots and they are truly loving and caring for his family, friends and even extending to all the pets along the way. He is a good father, husband and if your lucky a true friend.  It?s hard for me to watch my parents grow old. But as there physical bodies give way I start to focus on all else they have. Their straights go far past what they can or cannot do. He is a man who stuck to his standard and earns my love and respect every day. Getting through all the rough times in life while realizing what?s really important.  We have a loving family and good morals.

"the greatest man" by reba mcintire this song & lyrics has always touched my heart because it reminds me of myself & my dad, I feel I never really new him growing up but as an adult I see A very strong ,Loving, hard working man that has always done his best for us.....his family:) he gave everything he had !!!! the lyrics go ....... The greatest man I never knew lived just down the hall, and everyday we'd say hello but never talked at all,he was in his paper, I was in my room, how was I to know he thought I hung the moon.The greatest man I never knew came home late every night, he never had too much to say...too much was on his mind,I never really knew him & now it seems so sad, everything he gave to us...took all he had.Then the days turned into years & the memories to black & white , he grew cold like an old winter wind just blowing across my life.The greatest words I never heard , guess i'll never hear,the man I thought could never die ,s'been dead almost a year , he was good at business but there was business left to do, he never said he loved me, guess he thought I knew. although my dad is still alive I would like to dedicate this song to him A very special man who I admire & love.........                                                           your baby girl,                                Donna

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