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Our community is heartbroken to learn of the loss of Larry Irons,
who died suddenly on May 12th of a heart attack while at home.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Anne, his entire family,
and all those who loved and cherished him. A memorial service
was held on June 5th, 2004. Memorial gifts in Larry's honor may be made to: He Truly ListenedThere are few people I have met in my lifetime who truly stop, turn off all other thoughts, and listen to you. This was a special gift of Larry's. You might mention something troubling you in the prayer circle, and afterwards, Larry would come over wanting to know more. Rather than his mind busily trying to find things to say or ways to fix your problem, he truly listened and asked sometimes hard but important questions. Eventually, he might offer a suggestion or two, but more often than not he offered something even more important, his love, acceptance, and prayers. Perhaps even better, Larry offered hope that whatever it was could and would get better. Plus, weeks and months later, he remembered and checked in with you to hear how things had progressed or changed. Larry also had a special gift for letting you know when something you had said or done had touched him. A year ago, he called me in tears because he had just heard a perspective on the radio that so matched his feelings he couldn't believe someone else was saying those words. At the end of the radio perspective he realized it was me on the radio and he grabbed the phone to tell me how moved he was. I've realized that the way I experience the world is profoundly influenced by the people who have touched my life and opened my eyes, like Larry. For me, therefore, it's no surprise when my words echo feelings in their hearts. Larry had a gift not only for listening, but for adding a bit of his special light to each person he touched. Maybe Larry's gift was there when he was born, maybe it came from living through his own many difficult and wonderful times. Either way, his gift of truly listening and the way his eyes expressed his completely caring soul, are gifts that I will never forget. -- Craig Wiesner Please Share Your Thoughts And PrayersIf you would like us to include your thoughts, memories, and prayers on this page for Larry, please email admin@fprespa.org. Also, if you have a special photograph of Larry that I might use for this page, please send it to me electronically or via regular mail. From Sean Kramer (and family): Here is a comment from Sean about Larry: Larry was always funny, caring, loving, gentle and kind. We will miss him. I hope that in the heavens he will meet friends of ours and his and people that we all know to give him company. May the Lord be with him. Larry was a good man. "AMEN!" The rest of us wholeheartedly agree. Larry was a pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame
when I was a teenager there. I remember he was a terrific listener.
Every one of us in the student leadership of the youth group got
inspired to take initiative, because Larry believed in us and
simply waited for the students to take action. I learned from
Larry Anne to expect the best from people. |
