Lawrence Martin Finney passed away Saturday morning, January 26, 2019 at his home in Fruitland, Idaho. He was just days short of being 88 years old.
Larry was born on February 7, 1931 in Sterling City, Texas to his parents Edgar Porter Finney (a direct descendant of Edgar Allen Poe) and Lonie Iona Cloud (her ancestor was a Native American hero at the famed Alamo). He had three brothers; Ed, Bob, Ned and one sister, Inell. They worked the family farm until the dust bowl forced them to move to California to find work. He graduated from Bell Gardens Senior High School in Bell Gardens, California on June 18, 1948. He enlisted first in the Marine Corps and later in the Navy on March 1, 1949 and reached the rank of Seaman Apprentice and soon found himself on a submarine, the USS Cabezon (SS 334) which patrolled off the coast of Korea ready if needed during the peace talks. He received an Honorable Discharge from the Marines on February 28, 1949 and from the Navy on February 28, 1950. Years later, on a family trip to Hawaii during a self-guided tour of a submarine he became a volunteer tour guide, as all the people touring the boat began following him around as he explained the workings of the sub. Apparently he was much more interesting than what was available in the headphones.
Larry married Ann Christine Koerlin on April 5, 1952 in Los Angeles, California. They resided in Downey and Santa Fe Springs California and were blessed with three boys, Douglass, Jeffrey, and Stephen.
Larry was accepted by the Los Angeles Police Department Academy and completed the course of training and was hired by the LAPD on February 1, 1956 as a motorcycle policeman. During the years on the police force he represented the best example of our men in blue and there are many stories of his courage, compassion and heroism. At the end of his shift, he would come home to be adored by his wife and sons, until Ann was met at the door by his fellow officers, who let her know Larry had been seriously injured while on duty. After more than a year of hospitals he was retired with a permanent disability.
When he was able, the family piled in the station wagon and started searching for a new life. They went to Texas and considered buying a pecan farm, to Washington to be near a brother before falling in love with Idaho. A farm near Letha was bought and everyone had to learn how to be farmers. Larry and Ann lived on the farm then later bought a smaller farm in Payette, then four years later moved to their current home in Fruitland.
Larry was a proud to be an active member of the Ontario Elks, rising in the ranks to be named Exalted Ruler. While still in Letha, he worked for the Gem County Sheriff's Department as a deputy sheriff and as Chief of the Letha volunteer fire department. He and Ann enjoyed family, traveling, hunting and fishing, camping, and their church community at West Valley Church.
Larry has left behind his wife Ann C. Finney; his sons, Jeffrey Finney and his wife Pamela, Stephen Finney and his wife, Deanna; his grandchildren, Jonathan Finney, Sarah Finney McCullough and her husband Brandon McCullough, Maddie Finney and last but not least, Megan Finney. He is also survived by Ann's sister, Kathy Tam and her husband, Gail and was Uncle Larry to their children, Ron, Mike and Gayleen, their many grandchildren and now great grandchildren. Also missing him is his ever faithful Border Collie, Lizzy and his two caretakers, Joanne and Emily.
Meeting Larry in Heaven is his parents; his brothers and sister; father-in-law, Herbert Koerlin and mother-in-law, Jessie Koerlin; and the one he was most eager to see, his son, Douglass Martin Finney.
Well done, Larry! We will carry on from here.
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