LARRY RUSSELL DEAN
Larry Russell Dean of Holden, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, February 3, 2021 in Grain Valley, Missouri.
Larry was born on August 6, 1954 to John and Gladys Dean. He was later joined by his siblings, Linda and Robert “Bobby,” thus making their family complete.
As a child, Larry loved anything to do with nature, and he was an active member of the local 4-H Club. Larry was baptized in his youth and was a member of Enon Baptist Church in Pittsville, MO.
He attended school in Holden, MO where he was a member of FFA (Future Farmers of America), graduating from Holden High School in 1972.
Larry was united in marriage to Diana Manford-Parks on September 30, 1983 and together they raised their four children in the Holden community. They spent their early years attending their children’s numerous school functions and ball games, as well as fishing, playing cards with friends, taking an occasional float trip, and dancing.
Larry enjoyed his time hunting with his buddies. He loved his family and always did his best to be present, even after a long 12-hour shift at work. Sometimes, that meant falling asleep in his recliner while listening to his children practice reading aloud for school, or driving home after a ball game and only getting four hours of sleep before he would have to head back to work the next day. This was his way of showing how much he loved his family.
Larry and Diana spent the better part of their last few years together going to Branson and trout fishing at Bennett Springs. They loved their grandchildren, and spent as much time as possible with them, taking them fishing and spoiling them.
Larry and Diana were married just shy of their 25th Wedding Anniversary when she passed away in March of 2008.
After high school, Larry spent a short time working for Stahl Specialty Company, prior to beginning what would become 35 dedicated years with Ford Motor Company. Larry worked the assembly line for most of his tenure and finished as a high-low driver.
His job was not prestigious or exciting, but he was very proud of what he and his peers accomplished each day, building American-made cars and trucks. His fellow UAW #249 assembly workers were a second family to him, and he spoke of them often. Toward the end of his time with Ford, he would say that the guys he worked with would be what he missed the most about retiring.
It did not matter where he went, Larry always seemed to run into someone he knew or someone who he had a friend in common with from Ford. Larry almost always had a smile on his face and could talk to anyone, even a perfect stranger.
Larry is survived by his mother, Gladys Dean of Holden, MO; one brother, Bobby Dean of Holden, MO; four children, Tammy (Parks) Page of Holden, MO, Vince Parks and wife Darcy of Odessa, MO, Christy (Dean) Ehlen and husband Chad of Hamel, Illinois, and Sherry (Dean) Marcotte of Leeton, MO; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two brothers-in-law, Danny Manford and Douglas Mallatt; one sister-in-law Sharon Manford; and many other extended family members.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Diana; his father, John Dean; one sister, Linda Mallatt; father-in-law, Robert Southers; mother-in-law, Grace Southers; son-in-law, Michael Page; and his grandparents.
Larry will forever live on in the hearts of his entire family and anyone who called him friend.
A private funeral service was held at 2 p.m. on Monday, February 8, 2021 at Campbell-Cast Funeral Home, 407 S. Pine, Holden, MO.
A Celebration of Life for family and friends will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of your choice or to the National MS Society, the Shriners Hospitals for Children, or any local organization that supports our U.S. veterans.
Online Condolences may be made at www.castfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements were entrusted to Campbell-Cast Funeral Home, Holden, MO.
