Larry Edward Buttry, Sr.
March 2, 1936 — November 22, 2017
Larry E. Buttry, Sr. was born March 2, 1936 in St. Louis, Missouri to Ernest and Marie (Brumit) Buttry. The family moved to Huntington Park, California in 1942, when he was 6 and he went to school at Huntington Park Schools through the 10th grade. While growing up in California, Larry met Audubon, Iowa native Shirley Mae Cavanaugh who had moved to Bell, California.
On March 14, 1953, Larry and Shirley were united in marriage in Yuma, Arizona. After their marriage, they returned to the Los Angeles, California area to make their home and that is when Larry joined the United States Navy on November 17, 1953, at the age of 17. Larry served in the US Navy until his honorable discharge on August 15, 1960. While serving, Larry received the China Good Service Medal, three Good Conduct Medals and the National Defense Medal. He spent most of his service stationed aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Walke (DD-723) and later on the minesweeper USS Leader (MSO-490) during the Korean War.
Larry and Shirley then moved to Harlan, Iowa making that their lifelong family home. Larry continued his service upon returning to Iowa serving in the Iowa National Guard from 1976 to 1983 obtaining the rank of E6. Larry also worked for Harlan Manufacturing before beginning his own garbage business with the help of his brothers-in-law, Dick Cavanaugh and Louis Kroger. He operated Larry’s Hauling for 15 years before selling it to his nephew, Randy Kroger, in 1985. Larry semi-retired, but continued working; painting with Jerry Schomers, being a custodian for Conductix, and driving a school bus for many years. He fully retired in 2012 and moved into Elm Crest in 2015.
Larry died on November 22, 2017 at Elm Crest Assisted Living in Harlan, Iowa, attaining the age of eighty-one years, eight months and twenty days. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; an infant son; and sister Janet Miller.
He is survived by his children: Larry Buttry, Jr. and his wife Denise of Harlan, Iowa; Pamela and her husband Rick Finken of Davenport, Iowa; Ernest Buttry and his wife Lori of Millard, Nebraska; David Buttry and Mardel Munoz of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Michelle and her husband Jeff Musich of Harlan; Matthew Buttry and Nancy Bales of Harlan; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sisters Sheri and her husband Jim Bevill of California; Lucille and her husband Wally Franklin of Missouri; nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
On March 14, 1953, Larry and Shirley were united in marriage in Yuma, Arizona. After their marriage, they returned to the Los Angeles, California area to make their home and that is when Larry joined the United States Navy on November 17, 1953, at the age of 17. Larry served in the US Navy until his honorable discharge on August 15, 1960. While serving, Larry received the China Good Service Medal, three Good Conduct Medals and the National Defense Medal. He spent most of his service stationed aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Walke (DD-723) and later on the minesweeper USS Leader (MSO-490) during the Korean War.
Larry and Shirley then moved to Harlan, Iowa making that their lifelong family home. Larry continued his service upon returning to Iowa serving in the Iowa National Guard from 1976 to 1983 obtaining the rank of E6. Larry also worked for Harlan Manufacturing before beginning his own garbage business with the help of his brothers-in-law, Dick Cavanaugh and Louis Kroger. He operated Larry’s Hauling for 15 years before selling it to his nephew, Randy Kroger, in 1985. Larry semi-retired, but continued working; painting with Jerry Schomers, being a custodian for Conductix, and driving a school bus for many years. He fully retired in 2012 and moved into Elm Crest in 2015.
Larry died on November 22, 2017 at Elm Crest Assisted Living in Harlan, Iowa, attaining the age of eighty-one years, eight months and twenty days. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; an infant son; and sister Janet Miller.
He is survived by his children: Larry Buttry, Jr. and his wife Denise of Harlan, Iowa; Pamela and her husband Rick Finken of Davenport, Iowa; Ernest Buttry and his wife Lori of Millard, Nebraska; David Buttry and Mardel Munoz of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Michelle and her husband Jeff Musich of Harlan; Matthew Buttry and Nancy Bales of Harlan; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sisters Sheri and her husband Jim Bevill of California; Lucille and her husband Wally Franklin of Missouri; nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Larry Edward Buttry, Sr., please visit our flower store.