Larry Tankersley

Dec 2, 1938 -

Sep 22, 2022

Having lived 83 beautiful years on earth, Larry Tankersley moved to his eternal home in heaven on Sept. 22, 2022. The life of this beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather began on Dec. 2, 1938, in Medford, Ore., where he was born to Lewis and Charity Tankersley (nee Schreiner), formerly of Iowa. In Coos Bay, Ore., they raised their family: an older brother, Gene, and a twin brother, Jerry, of whom Larry was the younger by seven minutes, a fact Larry often took pleasure in pointing out.

Larry was kept busy working in the family restaurant, but found time to play football for Marshfield High School. He acquired a meat cutter job in high school and the owner taught him all the skills of the trade. He used those skills to put himself through Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore. He spied a girl across the room at a dance and flirted with her for a while before walking toward her, first stopping to ask another girl if she knew that girl's name. That girl, however, was embarrassed that he didn't stop to talk to her so she left the dance. Larry, crushed and determined, ran after her. She explained that she thought he was interested in the girl he had talked to. He explained that he was just making an inquiry. He married that girl, Lynette Lyon of Malin, Ore., in May 1960. He later graduated from Lewis and Clark College in 1964.

After graduation, they settled in Portland, and started their family of three wonderful children: Ty, Troy and Laura. He was offered the Food Service Director position with one of the Manning Food Service Company locations in Portland. From there, the company moved the family to several locations: Montana, back to Oregon, and then to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1973, where he became the Director of Food and Nutrition Services for Providence Hospital for 21 years. He then was employed by Alaska USA Federal Credit Union as the Manager of Administrative Services for eight years.

Throughout his life, teaching his family about camping, fishing and outdoor life was a priority and a passion. The Larry we love was a fun-loving, quick-witted, devoted, dedicated, honest family man who put his Savior first, allowing him to devote his love to his wife and his precious family. An avid lifetime reader, he read diverse authors: John Bunyan, James Michener, Louie L'Amour, David Jeremiah, among many others. He recently completed his 15th cover-to-cover reading of the Bible.

After retiring in 2003, with camping and fishing as the family's most favored recreation, Larry and Lynette moved to Soldotna, Alaska, near the Kenai River. Family from the Lower 48 enjoyed this immensely! Making many friends, enjoying family gatherings, surviving memorable fishing expeditions and becoming members of First Baptist Church Soldotna were among the highlights of the "Soldotna Years."

In 2017, they moved to be closer to their family in Wasilla, Alaska. He and Lynette transferred their church membership to Settler's Bay Community Church and joined their Bible study group. He was busy with gardening, caring for the yard, woodcraft projects and working jigsaw puzzles. Unfortunately, Larry developed multiple myeloma and pulmonary fibrosis, preventing him from enjoying the outdoor activities that he loved.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; brothers; son, Ty; and father- and mother-in-law, Louie and Maradean Lyon. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lynette; son and daughter-in-law, Troy and Wanda Tankersley; daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Dan Brodigan; grandchildren, Tyler and Peyton Tankersley, Samuel and Alyssia Phillips, Hannah and John Stiner, Brittni Tankersley, Hunter Tankersley and Sydney Tankersley; and great-grandchildren, Mylee Tankersley, Howard Phillips and Della Stiner.

Visitation will be on Oct. 1, 2022, at Settler's Bay Community Church, Wasilla, from 12-2 p.m., with Memorial Service at 2 p.m., followed by Burial Service at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Wasilla, and a Reception at Settler's Bay Community Church.

The family hopes that all who knew Larry will remember him with laughter and a whole lot of love.