Obit of Bentley, Larry Wayne - Beckham County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Wanda Purcell 28 Mar 2010 Return to Beckham County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Red Star Cemetery--Red Star OK Surnames: Bentley, Ferrell, Taylor Orignally posted at: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.oklahoma.counties.rogermills/9002/mb.ashx Larry Wayne Bentley was born June 25, 1943, in Elk City, Oklahoma to Jay and Evelyn Bentley. He grew up in the Red Star community learning to farm and ranch from a very young age. The family started dairy farming in the mid 1950's and he was never far from Jay's side. He went to school at Liberty Center through eighth grade and then to Leedey High School for ninth grade where he met Judith Ann Ferrell. He would walk her to town everyday for noon hour to buy her a Cherry Forget Me Not. Judy fell in love with his smile and cowboy hat. He was baptized at the Church of Christ in Leeedey and they were then married there on May 19, 1959. Judy had just turned 16 and since he was still 15, she had to drive when they left the church. He made her pull over just outside of town so he could drive. They planned to go to Oklahoma City for their honeymoon and made it all the way to El Reno, afraid they would get lost if they went on to Oklahoma City. When they were first married, Judy would make two pecan pies every day, which never went to waste. They started out living with Jay and Evelyn, lived in the Bentley house near Red Star and milked cows with Jay before moving to Stinett, Texas where Larry was a ranch foreman at the age of 17. After a short time, they returned to Leeedey and lived in their home near Red Star. In 1974, they moved their little two bedroom home west of town and built onto it and have lived there for the past forty years. Larry and Judy had four children, Brenda Ann, Larry Keith, Randy Wayne, and Anita Lue. Early in life, Larry greatly enjoyed bareback riding, stock car racing, and playing pool. As he got older he enjoyed watching his grandkids participate in rodeos and school activities, fishing, growing his garden, and drinking coffee with his friends at the Quick Stop. Over the past 30 years Larry and Judy have been both grandparents and mom and dad to several of their grandchildren, lovingly taking them to raise. After drinking coffee in the morning with friends, he liked to come home and make his special breadfast of fried eggs, bacon, toast, and a Dr. Pepper for Judy and any of the grandkids that were there. Larry spent nearly 20 years doing custom combining, every year starting in Frederick, Oklahoma and working their up to South Dakota and Wyoming. He operated Triple B Rodeo Company for five years, with Randy and Keith's help, and had livestock qualify for the National finals Rodeo. He enjoyed flanking the bucking livestock and he would dance to the rhythm of the bucking horses and bulls from behind the chutes. He also loved his cattle, farming and ranching. Grandpa Larry logged many hours on the computer playing card games. Larry passsed away March 7, 2009 in Mercy Hosspital in Oklahoma City at the age of 65. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Brenda; parents, Evelyn and Jay Bentley; brother, Paul; and grandparents Ben and Beaulah Bentley and Bud and Minnie Taylor. He is survived by his wife, Judy of the home; his children; Keith, Randy and Anita; thirteen loving grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; sisters Delores, Ramona and Dora and many aunts, uncles and cousins. There was not a thing Larry would not do for anyone and he would always find a way to help out in anyway he could. Larry impacted many lives and he will be remembered for many, many years. Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 11, 2009 in the Leedey High School Auditorium, Leedey, Oklahoma with burial following in Red Star Cemetery. Services conducted by Shaw Funeral Home, Leedey, Oklahoma. Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, OK 26-Mar-2009 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Beckham County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.htm