Larry Dale Flora

Obituary



Larry Dale Flora was born in Oshkosh, Nebraska on August 22, 1936 to Rev. George Flora and Genestia Foster Flora. As the son of missionaries, Larry grew up in a small village, twenty miles from the end of road in Liberia West Africa. After returning to the states, his family settled in San Jose, California where he attended high school before going back to Nebraska at Midland College. There he met Bonita Bartels across the picket fence of his aunts house and later married her on August 24, 1958 two days after his birthday, so they would be the same age. Moving to Northern California, he attended seminary and started his family. After serving for three years as a pastor, Larry felt called to serve his Lord in the secular world and so moved into sales, a job that allowed him to meet and share his faith with so many people.

Larry took an active role as father to his four children. He took them camping, taught them tennis, encouraged them to participate in community theater where he also took on occasional roles, and helped them understand that while life was not always fair, it was certainly worth living with a passion. He lived his passion every chance he got; he took his family canoeing down the rivers of Northern California. He could not get enough of boats.

Larry was an avid bridge player, eventually earning his Life Master Certificate. Larry was also active in Cursillo, a Christian organization that strives to build and renew leaders within churches. He often helped lead weekend retreats for churches up and down California, getting his children involved as well, and thereby building up a strong faith in them. Larry used Gods gift of a tenor voice and sang in several church choirs. And if you have ever sung in a choir, you know how hard it is to recruit tenors. Larry had an amazing and active sense of humor. Anyone who spoke to him could expect his demand: "Tell me a joke!" He always had one ready in return. In 2009, he and his wife moved to San Marcos in Southern California. There he continued his passions by taking on roles in community theater, finding some great bridge partners, and even playing the role of Santa Claus at various malls during the Christmas season.

In August of 2018, Larry and his wife moved to Hays, Kansas, to be closer to family. Here they celebrated their 60th anniversary. On March 16 of 2019 at age 82, Larry passed away at the Good Samaritan Society in Hays. He is survived by his wife Bonita Flora in Hays, KS; his siblings Miriam and Virgil Plautz in Walnut Creek, CA, Charles Flora in San Jose, CA, Russell and Donna Flora in Ormond By the Sea, Florida and Nita and Kent Mathews in Colorado Springs; his children Renee and Neil Scheuerlein from Cedar Rapids, IA, Melanie and Tim Folkerts in Hays, KS, Stephen and Michelle Flora and Daniel Flora in Washington state; ten grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hays, KS, Wednesday, March 20. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

Arrangements in care of Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Memorials can be made as donations in his name to My Brothers Keeper Orphanage in Careysburg, Liberia West Africa. If making a donation, please make the check out to Trinity Lutheran Church.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com



















Services







Celebration of Life Wednesday

March 20, 2019

11:00 AM

Trinity Lutheran

2703 Fort

Hays, Kansas 67601