Raymond Larry Denson, longtime Nederland resident, passed away Friday, March 19th at 11:40 p.m. Larry is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, two daughters, Mary R. Istre and Michelle Williamson, as well as one son, Alan; sister Gaile Nivens of Palestine, Texas; five grandsons, Clay, Jacob and Matthew Williamson, Cameron and Will Denson.
Larry was born August 5th, 1935 in Elkhart, Texas. He played football, basketball and baseball for the Elkhart Elks and that’s where he met the love of his life, Mary Ann Morehead. They wed July 31st, 1953.
In 1954, their first daughter, Mary Rebecca, was born and Larry enlisted in the United States Army. His first post was Fort Carson in Colorado, followed by Fort Benning. After Larry’s discharge from the Army, with a rank of Specialist 4th class, he went to work for RCA repairing radio equipment for the Army in Killeen, Texas and there his second daughter, Cynthia Michelle “Mike” was born. He was there at Fort Hood the same time the rather famous recruit, Elvis Presley was there. Elvis turned out to be Larry and Mary Ann’s favorite recording artist. They had all his records and loved his movies.He then moved to Derrider, and Fort Polk. When RCA changed from tubes to transistors, their was a massive lay-off and Larry went to work for the “K” Way Equipment Company in Baton Rouge.
Larry moved up the ranks within the company and was transferred to new offices opening in Port Arthur in 1966. he eventually became manager, then general manager of the Port Arthur and the Beaumont stores. In 1970, his son Larry Alan was born. Being the avid sports fan he was, he loved going to watch the Nederland Bulldogs play football, having season tickets from 1969 to the time of his death. He and Mary Ann also spent a lot time watching his son and grandsons play little league and then Babe Ruth baseball and football for Nederland and Orange field. Once video cameras became available, he taped everything and spent many and hour watching the boys’ games over and over. Once the Nederland games started airing on TV, he taped them all (even if he’d been there in person) so he could watch them for years to come. He loved the Bulldogs and became and avid Lamar Cardinal baseball and basketball fan too, taking his kids and grandsons to many a game.
Hunting and fishing were favorite pastimes. He loved to go deer hunting with Alan and brother-in-law. Tommy Nivens on family land in Elkhart. He took many a customer fishing on Sam Rayburn, where his dad, R.L. (Ray) Denson, was a fishing guide. He also loved to try for Big Reds at the beach.
In the 80’s, Larry became Vice-President for “K” Way and traveled between offices in Palestine, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Westlake, Louisiana, Baton Rouge and LaPlace, Louisiana. In 1990, the company was sold. Over the years, Larry worked for Hertz Equipment, Neff Rentals and Redfish Rentals, in Orange. He retired from Redfish in 2009.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Clementine Lanore Lively Denson of Palestine and his father, Raymond Lawrence Denson of Broaddus, Texas
Pallbearers will be Alan Denson of Groves, son-in-laws, David Istre of Port Neches and Richard Williamson of Orangefield; grandsons, Jacob Williamson of Port Neches, Clay Williamson of Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas and Mathew Williamson of College Station, Texas. Honorary pallbearers are grandson, Cameron Denson of Nederland and brother-in-law, Tommy Nivens of Palestine, Texas.
Funeral service will be officiated by Caz Francis, of Church On The Rock.
