I just watched the video (June 2022) and remembered my association with Larry fondly.  I was one of those! Park Superintendents who always had questions and once helped(?) on an excavation at Bollinger Mill SHS next to existing building where addition was planned.  I am sure the following winter when Larry surveyed our bags he wondered WHAT IN WORLD!   We knew nothing but I treasure the experience we had under his tutelage.  I have many wonderful memories of our park and historic site days.  Nancy

I was very saddened to hear of Larry's passing.  I always enjoyed working with him when I was Director of State Parks.  He was a very dedicated professional who loved Missouri history and enjoyed sharing his knowledge with others.  He will be missed by many.  

I first met Larry 30+ years ago when I started working in Missouri State Parks.  He was memorable because of his “whistling why he worked” and his intense concentration while he worked at his desk sifting through bags of rock and sand from one of his many projects.  Larry was also a go to person for questions on history and information on Missouri State Parks.

I really got to know Larry through our monthly State Park Poker games. I started playing in the game in 1988.  It started with a group of historians and Larry was one of the founding members along with Booker Rucker and Ralph Bray. As non-historians, Paul Nelson and I were considered outsiders and after winning a little money at my first game they tried to convince me that I had to buy everyone breakfast.  Paul fell for their scheme, I did not. Larry would end any game where he lost money by saying “it was much better than a cheap date”.  

The games were normally played in Jefferson City where most of the guys lived.  We would occasionally play at Larry’s house in Columbia but it would always end a little earlier because most players would have to drive back to Jefferson City.  They were fond of saying “it gets later earlier in Columbia” Larry and I would sometime carpool since I lived out of town in Ashland. I remember fondly our times together and the variety of conversations.  Larry had a broad knowledge on many topic and I would always learn something new from our talks. At our next poker game we will leave Larry’s chair empty and toast to his friendship and our memories.
David Kelly, Deputy Director



Memories from Larry's Missouri State Parks Family

When I think of Larry I think of his great patience sifting through all those bags of gravel and rocks looking for significant artifacts. I also think of him lightly whistling all the time. 
Marion Fleischmann, Retired Reservation Administrator 

At Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Larry helped us understand how to decide if something like a glass jar was trash or an artifact!  I remember that lines in the glass told how old it was.

He came out along with other staff, to look at a barn that we hoped could be saved.  I learned a number of things from Larry about how barns were built such as the practice of using green oak wood during construction so the nails could be easily driven in (not the case after it hardens), but since the oak wood shrinks as it dries, people put little boards over the cracks that would form to keep out the winter wind.

Beyond the knowledge that Larry obviously had, what I admire most as I look back is his manner.  While he was intelligent and confident, he was down to earth, listened well, reserved yet had a great sense of humor and in the end helped you feel good about getting bad news!  He had to tell us that while our barn was wonderfully built, it really wasn’t anything special and there was absolutely no money for restoring it!  But, on that day, we appreciated it and enjoyed each other’s company.
Roxie Campbell, Rock Bridge State Park



Memories from Larry's Missouri State Parks Family

I first met Larry in 1976 when I was at Northeast Missouri State University (Truman State)  and he was at UMC.  NMSU had landed a contract with the USACE for a survey of archaeological resources at the proposed Long Branch Reservoir without having a staff archaeologist. As they were going out of state with their search,  I felt we needed to try to get someone who knew North Missouri archaeology.  I made a quick trip to UMC to talk to Dr. Ray Wood.  Ray said he had one student, Larry, who would be a good fit, but Larry had plans to soon be doing archaeology in Colorado where his close friend, Bill Butler, was.  

Ray sent me to the basement of Swallow Hall where I found Larry surrounded by several trays of fire-cracked-rock. It took several hours of talking but I finally swayed him with a promise of a good salary and health care and that he could leave anytime he wanted. He was clearly a grad student living on the economic edge. He often reminded me thru the years (jokingly) that I had trapped him into staying in Missouri. From the years at Long Branch through the many years at Athens and Iliniwek and many smaller projects in between, Larry and I maintained a close friendship.  I will always value our friendship, until I too, draw my last breath.
Roger Boyd, Retired Site Administrator, Battle of Athens State Historic Site 

I ran into Larry at the grocery store in May; he seemed to be doing well.  He said he was working at Rock Bridge on archaeological projects.  For sure, he was a fixture in the Parks/Cultural Resources, along with Booker Rucker & Stan Fast. I still remember the tune he whistled continuously. He was very knowledgeable & a kind person.
Mike Currier, Retired, Natural History Program


Memories from Larry's Missouri State Parks Family

Jerry and I are saddened by the death of our friend Larry. We remember him fondly. Larry really loved being an archaeologist and didn't mind hot, humid weather, bugs, or snakes when he was out in the field. Fortunately, he was immune to poison ivy. He loved his family, and he liked to play Bridge. He also whistled a lot -- a tune of his own that nobody recognized. We will miss him.
Bonnie Stepenoff, co-worker and friend

Larry was a coworker of mine, and for a brief period of time he was my immediate supervisor, and much later after we both retired we became friends.  We both talked about relocating and being closer to our family.  We both agreed that State Park Poker Night was a social outing that we both enjoyed and often compared it to a cheap date but with a lot more fun.  There was this on incident that I remember that was typical Larry.  It was my first Historic Site Administration Meeting and it was Larry’s turn to give his speech.  Only employees with twnty plus years were allowed to speak. Short and straight to the point, Larry took to the podium and said, “I didn’t think I would be here this long!” He then took his 20 year plaque and walked out of the limelight. Short and Sweet!
John Spencer, Retired Cultural Resource Management Program



Memories from Larry's Missouri State Parks Family

One of the things that always tickled me was his tossing his cigarette butts into the dig trenches, on the grounds that any archaeologist revisiting the dig would find the eternally undecomposed filters as proof it had already been explored. An acceptably amusing excuse for the intrusion. His knowledge and careful professionalism made him a first rate archeologist, one of the best I've worked with. He proved the 1877 drawing of the house, and by default the mill, was completely accurate in all details, and that, despite what the naturalists claimed, that WLW built his home on undisturbed prairie.
Ann Sligar, Retired Site Administrator, Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site

Although I didn’t know Larry well, I did work with him upon occasion while at State Parks.  He was just a wealth of knowledge about all things Missouri.  He always took the time to explain or tell a story in a way that was enlightening and understandable for lay persons like me.  He always had a smile and kindness about him. And, he whistled his own tune! I loved it!  He sure had an impact in archaeology in Missouri through his knowledge and professionalism and personally on the many people who had the pleasure to meet and work with him.  May he rest in peace. 
Jane Lale, Retired Director, Planning and Development Program



Memories from Larry's State Park Family

When I think of Larry I know think of his pleasant demeanor and of course like everyone else, his whistling. You never had to ask if Larry was in the office because you just had to listen. I also remember being on work trips with Larry where he would collect bags of “stuff”. When I questioned what he was collecting he said it was flint/chert flakes from the making of tools or points. To me it looked like every other piece of stone on the ground so of course I questioned the value of what he was collecting. But there was no doubt, he was confident in his in his work. Thanks Larry for making us all wiser stewards of our cultural resources. 
Deb Schnack. Retired Planning and Development Director


I just remember him always whistling while working and that big grin through his mustache. One time he had a coffee can of pebbles on his desk and a pile of them he was poking thru. I asked why and he said they were from Illiniwek screenings and he didn’t want to miss anything. He invited me up to see what it was all about and I ran a screen for a day. We uncovered a bison knuckle, copper tinklers, fish bones etc. He took all the left over screenings and I always wondered how many pounds of stuff he went thru in his career. I always learned something every time I saw him and consider myself fortunate to have worked with him.
Dan Files, Retired Northern Parks District Supervisor 


Memories from Larry's State Park Family

I first met Larry 30+ years ago when I started working in Missouri State Parks.  He was memorable because of his “whistling why he worked” and his intense concentration while he worked at his desk sifting through bags of rock and sand from one of his many projects.  Larry was also a go to person for questions on history and information on Missouri State Parks.

I really got to know Larry through our monthly State Park Poker games. I started playing in the game in 1988.  It started with a group of historians and Larry was one of the founding members along with Booker Rucker and Ralph Bray. As non-historians, Paul Nelson and I were considered outsiders and after winning a little money at my first game they tried to convince me that I had to buy everyone breakfast.  Paul fell for their scheme, I did not. Larry would end any game where he lost money by saying “it was much better than a cheap date”.  

The games were normally played in Jefferson City where most of the guys lived.  We would occasionally play at Larry’s house in Columbia but it would always end a little earlier because most players would have to drive back to Jefferson City.  They were fond of saying “it gets later earlier in Columbia” Larry and I would sometime carpool since I lived out of town in Ashland. I remember fondly our times together and the variety of conversations.  Larry had a broad knowledge on many topic and I would always learn something new from our talks. At our next poker game we will leave Larry’s chair empty and toast to his friendship and our memories.
David Kelly, Deputy Director


Memories from Larry's Missouri State Park Family
I will not be able to attend the service on the 10th, but can certainly affirm that Larry was a valuable state employee, with a cordial and constructive personality. He made a significant contribution to the state park mission, and will surely be missed by all who worked with him. Our thoughts and prayers are especially with his family.
John Karel, Former Director

My lasting memory of Larry, among others, was how pleased he was to get our new ground sourcing radar unit. He guarded it with his life, as it was a great research tool and time saver.  He was a unique individual and totally dedicated to his profession.  There were many top notch professional staff in the Division and Larry was among the best. 
Doug Eiken, Former Director

I remember a trip that he, DK Hirner and I took across South Missouri doing LWCF inspections and checking some archeological sites.  We started out in the far southwest corner and ended up in the boot heel.  I learn a lot from Larry on that trip about archeological sites in the areas we visited.
Nonie McClammer, Retired Deputy State Park Director



I will never forget all that Larry brought to my life: laughter, generosity, kindness, informative instruction, career suggestions, and above all else, a sincere friendship.   You are sorely missed and will remain close forever.

RIP Larry and cheers to what is beyond.

Chris

His friendly smile, a whistled tune, and great stories helped to make a long day in the field a little better.  Working with Larry was one of the highlights of my time at MoDOT.  He was willing to let a less experienced person take the lead and would provide support and guidance when asked or needed.  He will be missed by all who knew him.

You chose a photo that brings back memories of Larry laid back, smiling and twitching that mustache!  There was humor and a mischief in that look that I can recall.  As a colleague of Larry’s for over 40 years in Missouri State Park, I always admired his knowledge and demeanor.  He was certainly smarter in the area of archaeology than those of us who managed state parks, but he was never one to make us feel smaller or intimidate us with the knowledge he had in his back pocket.  He knew his subject matter and imparted it to those of us who wanted to learn.   He was steadfast in protecting those resources important to him, to history, and to those cultures previous to our occupation of the Missouri landscape.  I had the pleasure of working with him in state parks and historic sites (although that was not my background).  He was very generous in sharing what he knew about a site.  Oftentimes, even if it was an area I did not have a connection to, I enjoyed the stories interwoven into facts that Larry and his fellow historians would banter back and forth. To his family, I want to thank you for sharing him with us all those years.  Oftentimes our job takes us away from family, but I want you to know that the work he dedicated his life to was very important and will live on, and guide those who follow into the future.  To our park family, it is with great sadness we say goodbye to his wonderful person, but a tribute that a person with Larry’s knowledge could live among us, and try to make us better understand our small place in a history that spans hundreds of thousands of years and millions of people who populated our state before us. 

I, too, first knew Larry when he was a denizen of the Swallow Hall basement, since I had a similar "office" (?) space on the other side of the building. Larry had perfected his ability to sleep there, tilted back in his chair, so that when the night watchman made his rounds all Larry had to do was open his eyes and act like he was still actively counting snails. Or what ever.
His offer to provide emergency airplane seats to David E. (Curly) Griffin and me from Kirksville to St. Paul for our presentations at the Plains Conference is another, much longer, story.  

I had the pleasure of working with Larry at Missouri State Parks.  As a park architect at the time, he often was the person who informed me that I couldn't build on a site due to the evidence or even potential of historic artifacts at that location.  He was a teacher and a mentor.  We spent hours, usually over a cup of coffee and a cigarette, discussing archeology and any other subject of interest.  I was always enthralled  and amazed by the detailed sketches he made of archeology sites and artifacts.  What an amazing man with broad intellect and intelligence.  He is one of a few really compassionate and decent people I had the pleasure of knowing during my life.  The photo does him justice.

This wonderful photo says it all. The few times I interacted with Larry, he was cheerful, generous of spirit, and kind. His work at Iliniwek helped to elevate our understanding of this unique site. So very sorry for your loss.

I first worked with Larry on a survey based at the unforgettable Mercer, Missouri field camp. He has been a steadfast friend since then, which is now so much closer to 50 than 40 years ago. We weathered graduate school together with trips to the Heidelberg, the Shack and his home in the basement of Swallow Hall. He was a hearty companion at every Plains Conference I ever attended.  We will all miss is professional expertise and incomparable knowledge of Missouri Archaeology, his wisdom, his dry wit, his infectious grin, and his friendship. 

My archaeological field school was at Iliniwek, and that was where I met Larry.  I ended up heading to Mizzou to study materials from that project to start my graduate career, and Larry was always encouraging and available in Columbia. I have fond memories of sitting at his house looking at site maps while he sorted flot samples and his cat kneaded me like biscuits. My first professional presentation at a national conference was as part of that project, and I have always been grateful for his kindness and the way he supported my novice efforts in archaeology.  

A light gone out too soon!  I will always remember your presentations for MAS!!

While I never had the pleasure of knowing Larry personally, as a fellow archaeologist I have read a great many of his works and have had fantastic stories recounted to me about his time at MoDOT. His contribution to Missouri archaeology and conservation will be recounted for generations to come. He will be greatly missed 

Larry was at Missouri towards the end of Rain and my time there.  We both thought Larry was one of the nicest people.  Rain always had good stories from Larry about the goings on in Swallow Hall since Larry lived there! (Rain always got good stories no matter where we were.  Nobody ever told those things to me.)  We both enjoyed talking to Larry and I shall miss seeing him at meetings.

I met Larry when I first started graduate school at Missouri in the mid-70's.  He was a fantastic, kind man who was willing to talk to you for hours about not only Missouri archaeology, but also  how to navigate your way through a complex graduate school. As a "new guy" from the east coast he was one of my true mentors in those first few years.

About four years later I was well into graduate school and Larry was off in the world making a living in archaeology.  As I was driving north to spend the summer working on an archaeological project  in the Dakotas with a friend I fell asleep at the wheel and our car flew into a corn field and hit the only tree for miles!  My companion had a broken collar bone, and I had a severe concussion, and the car was in worse shape.

I called the only person I knew in Kirksville, Larry.  He came out and grabbed us  and took us to his house.  He fed us and let me sleep on his couch.    He also arranged to have the car repaired and by the late afternoon we were on our way. 

Who would do this?  And act at the same time like it was no big deal.  Larry Grantham.  He had a personal code of conduct that few could meet.  We have lost touch through the years, but I have never forgotten this kind, decent man. 



I have known Larry for over 45 years. I met him when I was given an office next to his in the basement of Swallow Hall. He was then living under his lab table and was subsisting on  a diet of rice and tuna fish. No money, but he was determined to get an education. no matted what it took. We shared a house for over a year, and many pitchers at our second lab -- the Heidelberg.  Great memories. I have done archelogy with Larry in Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, and of course, Missouri. Every state has one two individuals who know the archaeology of their state better then anyone else- Larry was it for Missouri. Too many good times to tell about here. I will miss him.

Larry created many great memories during our graduate school days together at Mizzou - from long talks about archaeology in his basement office at Swallow Hall while he sorted through water screen samples for elusive gastropods, to opening and closing (on the same day) the Heidelberg while pondering the information potential of fire cracked rock and lithic debris, to longer talks about most everything at the Shack. One of my favorite memories was building a "solar bathtub shower" at our Mercer field camp. His passion for archaeology and life was limitless and I was fortunate to share in it. 

Larry was kind and gentle soul who went above and beyond for his family, friends, and archaeological associates.   My sincere condolences to all.  He will certainly be missed 

Larry was a true friend and a very nice guy.  Our friendship  and archaeological association spans 44 years, from many years at Long Branch Reservoir to our many years working at Iliniwek Village SHS and numerous projects in between.  Myself and all that had the pleasure of knowing and working with him can't help but feel a great personal loss at his passing.  Missouri archaeology has also lost a dedicated professional and friend.

I'm so sorry for your loss.  Larry was a treasured member of the Missouri Archaeological Society and used to regularly come to meetings of the Ozark Highlands Chapter.  We all enjoyed his knowledge, company, and wonderful stories. He went above and beyond in helping us and was just one of the nicest people I could imagine. He will be greatly missed by all of us! 


OBITUARY

Larry Dean Grantham

July 31, 1950 – June 23, 2020

Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory & Memorial Park Cemetery/Columbia

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