Laurance Coleman Mosher, Jr.

Laurance C. Mosher, Jr., affectionately known as “Bubba” by his immediate family, passed away peacefully on October 20, 2023. Born on April 13, 1940, in Pasadena, Texas, he was the son of Laurance C. Mosher, Sr., founder of the Pasadena CPA firm Mosher, Seifert & Company, and Dorothy Grissom Mosher. Laurance Jr. was the cherished eldest of four siblings. He is survived by his sister, Sandra Mosher Taylor, who is retired and resides in New Mexico, and his brother, Paul Wayne Mosher, a retired airline pilot living in Florida with his wife, Carol. Laurance Jr. was predeceased by his brother, Thomas “Tommy” Mosher, who passed away in 2011. Tommy's widow, Bonita “Bonnie” Mosher, currently lives in Kingwood.

Known to his friends and colleagues as Larry and to his college fraternity brothers as “Mose,” Laurance Jr. was a devoted father to four wonderful children: Jennifer Lindberg Pitts, Laurance “Chip” Mosher III, Tristan Paul Mosher, and Adrianna Crysten Mosher. He was also the stepfather to Ronald “Trey” Brittain III and John Brittain. His eldest daughter, Jennifer, and her husband, James “Jim” Pitts, blessed Larry with two grandchildren, Tenzin and Magnolia "Noli" Pitts.

Larry experienced the joys and trials of matrimony three times, each teaching him profound lessons of life — having been married to Camille Spurlock, Jeanine Kunkel, and Gaia Thomas. In his final years, he found himself single, actively participating in the senior dating scene. He enjoyed dinner outings, driving his dates in his cherished “vintage” Jaguar cars, seeking that last, lasting life partner, which would sadly never come to pass.

Larry's academic and professional journey showcased his dedication and pursuit of excellence. He began his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas in 1958, initially aiming for a career in architecture. However, his fondness for the card game Hearts briefly derailed his academic pursuits, leading him to withdraw from UT.

He later returned to college with renewed determination, graduating in 1962. During his college years, he was a proud member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. He would later regale his children with stories about booking a young Willie Nelson for fraternity events. After obtaining an accounting degree, Larry decided to pursue a legal career and continued his education at UT Law School.

Graduating with honors from UT Law School in 1964, he was elected to the Order of the Coif, an accolade reserved for the best in the legal field. Recognizing the ever-evolving nature of law, Laurance continued his education and secured an LLM in Taxation from the prestigious New York University and graduated in 1966. He lived right off Washington Square Park and would later reminisce about seeing Lenny Bruce, who he liked a lot, and Woody Allen, who he didn’t like so much.

In 1967, he started his career at the internationally renowned law firm Fulbright & Jaworski, later known as Norton Rose Fulbright. Larry worked there almost 40 years until his retirement in 2004. Laurance's deep expertise in taxation and energy regulatory laws were pivotal in his rise to Partner at the firm. Known as a “lawyer's lawyer,” he had the unique ability to tackle complex projects with unparalleled acumen. Larry’s legal work spanned both the Houston and Washington, D.C. offices. He quickly established himself as a leading figure in regulatory law, frequently being invited as a speaker for regulatory seminars across the country. During his tenure at Fulbright, Larry played a pivotal role in a decade-long series of administrative and courthouse litigations initiated by the Department of Energy against major players in the energy sector. He also participated in litigation concerning Superfund sites in Texas.

A proud resident of Piney Point Village in Houston for most of his life, Larry loved coaching his children in baseball and playing tennis during weekends at the Houston Racquet Club. He often ended his evenings there with a double Tia Maria (and later Kahlua) over ice. Larry spent his last constructive years in Pearland to be closer to the Houston Gun Club, where he enjoyed skeet shooting and taught for many years.

Even in the final stages of his life, while faced with severe dementia, a simple prompt would lead him to display the “Hook 'em Horns” sign, showcasing his enduring affection for his alma mater, University of Texas. Although his remarkable memory for detail faded, his dry wit and signature aphorisms — many of which are not safe for an obituary — remained with him until the end.

Larry had a keen interest in genealogy. It is noteworthy that his unique name, Laurance, is derived from his great-grandmother, Laura Coleman Mosher, an educator from Syracuse, NY. Laura is the ancestor to numerous pioneers and legends in the public administration field, but her most enduring impact on Larry’s life would be ensuring that his name would be habitually misspelled throughout his life.

Laurance's professional accomplishments were vast. However, it was his keen eye for detail, dry, sarcastic wit, love for red wine — red, not white — admiration for Neil Diamond and Willie Nelson, and unwavering dedication to the law that truly defined him.

A celebration of life for Laurance will be held Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023. A committal service will occur Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home & Forest Park Lawndale, 6900 Lawndale St, Houston, TX 77023. A reception will occur Saturday, November 18, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023.

Larry's legacy will forever be cherished and remembered by all fortunate enough to have known him.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be sent to Alzheimer's Texas here: https://www.txalz.org/donate/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ForestParkLawndaleFH.com for the Mosher, Jr. family.