Born and raised in Kansas, Larry Cavenah was a "country boy" at heart. Easygoing and friendly, Larry saw all people as equals. He was a dedicated citizen, always willing to give his fair share. He served in the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War. Sadly, Larry passed away in May 2004, of a heart-attack. True to his giving nature, Larry had decided long before his death to donate tissue and organs to benefit others. He said, "Once I am gone, it only makes sense to give what I can to help others...I won't need it then!" If one person benefited from what he gave, Larry would be extremely proud and happy.

Larry's Story

Larry Cavenah was born and raised in Kansas, and was truly a "country boy" at heart. Easy going and friendly, Larry saw all people as equals, and could charm anyone with his handsome, welcoming smile. He was a dedicated citizen, always willing to give his fair share, and this led him to serve in the United States Navy in the Vietnam War, where he received honors for his work in radio-communications.

Larry craved knowledge and had a quick, inquisitive, creative mind. He constantly strived to learn new things, from plumbing installation to the theory behind the formation of celestial black holes. His love of learning extended to people as well, making Larry a gifted conversationalist who thrived on interpersonal connection. He was never shy about making new acquaintances and could usually be counted on to not only know who his neighbors were, but the names of their kids, their pets, and even perhaps the way they liked their steak cooked on the barbeque.

One of Larry's passions was photography. He was fascinated by the natural world, and his ability to see the beauty of a rose in bloom, or a Monarch butterfly landing on a flower, earned him several blue ribbons. He was competitive, and when it came to photography, a perfectionist. Never one to be content with the status quo, Larry pursued many career paths in his life, allowing his natural love of learning to guide him, and found happiness in the building construction field. Naturally a leader, he enjoyed working with his team, guiding them and creating a sense of pride as they labored to build new developments and structures. He was truly gifted with the ability to adapt to any situation, and come out a winner. Larry knew his strengths well, and once he found his niche, he never settled for less than his best.

Sadly, Larry passed away in May 2004, of a heart-attack. He left behind two daughters, Renee and Sarah, and his wife, Vicki. True to his giving nature, Larry had decided long before his death to donate any useable bodily tissue and organs to benefit others. As he said, "Once I am gone, it only makes sense to give what I can to help others...I won't need it then!" The exact number of recipients of Larry's tissue and organs are not known, but if one person has benefited from what he gave, then Larry would be extremely proud and happy.