Larry Ray Harp

Larry Ray Harp was born February 17, 1954, in Loma Linda, California, to Jimmy Ray and Wanda Lee (Meeks) Harp. When he was about 12 years old, the family moved to Oregon where he attended North  Salem High School. Larry was a star player on the football team and participated in gymnastics, being the largest person on the team at 6’2” and 175 pounds, and quite a site to see performing on the high bar. After graduation he attended Western Oregon on a football scholarship, but academics was not something he was terribly excited about at the time. Larry left college and took work as a logger for a time before, when for some reason unknown to even him, he decided to voluntarily enlist in the Marines and was stationed in California. After being honorably discharged from the Marines, Larry met Cherri. In Southern California.  Larry was going to Oregon for his mom’s wedding, so they loaded up their MGB, two cats, and a few belongings, and they hit the road to Oregon. When they settled in, Larry took jobs in construction and finishing concrete.  He even ran his own concrete business for a while. He knew construction was not going to cut it for the rest of his life, so he took classes at Linn Benton Community College and became a machinist. He worked for Kimber rifles and System shredder Inc. where he made part for industrial shredders.  Larry and Cherri married on December 31, 1982, at the Deepwood Estate in Salem. They lived in several different towns over the years; Bend, Independence, Kings Valley and Jefferson to name a few. But they always returned to the Salem area.  After Larry had a stroke in the late 90s, he was unable to return to work and took retirement. The couple began to tire of the city life, so they decided to move, buying their dream home in Lyons, a country setting with beautiful oak trees all around. They thoroughly enjoyed the quiet beauty of their home in the Santiam Canyon for the last 11 years.  When Cherri agreed to their original move to Oregon from California, she made Larry promise to take her to Oklahoma every two years to see her family.  Larry kept that promise and they drove back to Oklahoma many times, taking a different route each time, exploring most of the US on the west side of the Mississippi River. The family also enjoyed spending time at the coast and camping during the summer, especially at their beloved Fisherman’s Bend Campground, now sadly destroyed by wildfire.Larry was a talented woodworker and enjoyed making things for his family, like a porch swing for his wife and furniture for her and his boys.  He could make anything with wood.  Larry was also a great teller of tall tales and had a great sense of humor. He loved to laugh and make people laughTwo years ago Larry finally acquired a life long dream of owning a Harley Davidson.On August 17, 2021, Larry said goodbye to the woes of this world and passed away peacefully with his wife and mother by his side. While he is at peace now, Larry will be so dearly missed by the loved ones he leaves behind including his wife of 44 years, Cherri; his mother Wanda; his sons James Cecil Harp and Christopher Paul Harp; and his brothers Jerry Harp, James Harp, and John Harp. He was preceded in death by his father Jimmy.  Larry will be laid to rest at the Willamette National Cemetery with honors at some time in the future.  Notice will be posted. In lieu of flowers. Larry would love it if you would donate to the disabled American veteran’s fund.