LARRY KENNETH MITCHELL

Written by Terry Conner

   My son was a month late!  He was also over 10 lbs. at birth.  A really big boy and unbelievably beautiful.  I remember how I had to cram those little feet into the booties I had brought with me.  The nurses were kidding when they told me I should make my son walk home instead of carrying him.  I did not find this amusing however!

   Until he was ten months old, Larry was a really easy baby.  At ten months he learned to walk and at ten and a half months, he was running.  I was constantly chasing that child.  He was one busy boy and had no fear whatsoever.  He used to climb our built-in bookshelves and then jump while yelling. “catch me mama!”.   Somehow I always made it.  Just like when he got his first swing set…the swings didn’t impress him, neither did the teeter-tooter or the horse ride.  Not my boy!  I looked out my window and saw my baby walking across the top cross bar (like a tight rope walker)!  Again I say, a very busy little fella, but also extremely honest.  Larry always owned up even when he knew he would get in trouble.

  From the time he was a little guy, thru his teen years, and even as a young adult, Larry loved to “die”.  You point your finger at him, say “bang”, and he would immediately drop.  His theatrics were magnificent!  We are talking Academy Award material!  As he got older, he would “die” with his eyes opened.  It was very difficult to hold a pose, especially with a mama who loved to tickle the “dead”.

   Larry was extremely bright and excelled in school.  When he was in junior high, he was often bored as the work was just too easy for him.  This proved to be a bit of a problem for his teacher, so she shipped him off to a college course!  He did very well in that too!

  Larry had a fantastic imagination and would come up with the most interesting and far-fetched stories.  Sometimes they were so believable that I had to make up a new rule.  If I said, “really and truly”, Larry HAD to tell the truth.  That worked really well until one day when he was late coming home from school.  He told me that he had been beamed up to a spaceship.  When I asked him, “really and truly”, he insisted that was the truth!  Every day, Larry loved to watch Wild Wild West on television…. he didn’t see it for a month!

   At 17, Larry wanted to join the navy.  He kept asking…begging…. pleading…and I kept saying “no”.  One afternoon, he asked if he could have a friend over for dinner.  I said, “of course”, and wouldn’t you know, this “friend” turned out to be the navy recruiter.  Talk about being double-teamed.  So, off he went to boot camp where again he excelled and became squad leader.  I received some of the saddest letters in my life, but talk about a big change.  When Kari and I went to his graduation, I hardly knew my boy.  Of course, the long hair was gone, but his attitude was so different.  He was very polite and well behaved.  He even called his sister ma’am!  When he came home, that boy could really make a bed and told me not to fold his clothes anymore, as I didn’t do it correctly.  I didn’t do it the Navy way!  That didn’t bother me very much at all!

  While I was in Africa, and Larry was aboard ship, he did not do well staying in touch with his mama.  Naturally, I was getting very concerned and worried.  I met this admiral at one of Pat and Annie’s parties and shared my problem with him.  Within 15 minutes, I was talking with my boy!  Seems his captain had gone and fetched him and told him to call his mother.  Larry stayed in good contact after that!

  Larry’s first base was Whidbey Island and he was one lonely fella.  He called a lot and I know he really missed his sister and I, as he is one who needs to have his family near him.  He also couldn’t cook a bit.  One day he called me and told me he was having trouble making spaghetti.  He had warmed up the bottled sauce but when he put the noodles in the sauce…well, they just wouldn’t cook!  For these reasons, I knew my boy would marry young.  He dated quite a few women,  (he was wife hunting) but none of them lasted very long until he met his Amie.  That beautiful little redhead was the answer to his prayers.

   Kari and Larry were very close, but nonetheless siblings!  How they loved to tease each other…and still do!  One of their favorite jokes is when they are talking on the phone and one says, “listen to this”…and then hangs up.  Wonder where they got that?  Also for several years at Christmas time, I would send each of my children checks for them and their families.  Usually around $50 a head.  Larry would call Kari and exclaim, “wow, I can’t believe that mom sent me a $1,000 this year!  That’s a “gotcha”. 

  My father was Larry’s major male role model and he loved Dad dearly.  He tried very hard to make his grandpa proud of him and he definitely succeeded.  He has also succeeded in his own role as father.  He spends time with his boys,...listens to them,...plays with them,…shows his love for them,…and guides them towards being good citizens by showing them with his example.  Where my father used the word “judgment”, Larry uses the word “consequences”.  In 1985, Larry went to court and legally changed his last name to Mitchell.  My father was very pleased and proud of that.

    Larry was one of the first Mitchell’s to quit drinking.    He has been off the sauce for over 9 years.  He is living proof that one doesn’t need to drink to have fun.  What a card he is and he is always making me laugh.  At the last big family reunion, (my father’s 80^th birthday) who there can ever forget his infamous line? “Hello, my name is Larry and I’m a Mitchell.”  

   He retired from the navy at age 38 and has already successfully embarked on his new career in computers.  He is such an eager and hard worker that I know he will have one success after another.  My son is a dedicated father, a devoted husband, and a loving son.  He is a great friend and always makes time for those who need him.  He is very honest and has old-fashioned morals.  Nothing in the world is more important to Larry then his family.  He is very proud of his heritage and strives to be a credit to his ancestry.  I am so fortunate and honored to call this wonderful man my son.