Larry Wayne Early

Larry Wayne Early, 70, of Snyder, TX, died on Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 in the Covenant Hospital in Lubbock, Texas. 

Larry was born on September 26, 1954 to Billy Wayne Early and Wanda Faye Upshaw in Hamlin, Texas. He was the oldest of their 3 children - a very loving, protective big brother to his sister,Donna, and his brother, Keith.

He attended school in Hamlin before moving to Snyder, Texas at the age of 12. At Snyder High, he enjoyed his woodworking, shop, cooking, and ag classes. He won many stock shows and enjoyed working with his animals. He also made breakfast for teachers whenever possible while in the cooking class.

After graduating, Larry worked in the oilfield for Halliburton, and Patterson, worked for the Texas State Prison System, and Copper Solutions. He enjoyed doing work for others and had a business called Larry’s Handyman Services. He remodeled a country club building for a family member, built storage buildings, did work on the Scurry County Boys & Girls Club, remodeled bathrooms, built fences, shingled roofs, plastered and painted walls and ceilings. He taught his sons how to work on many different projects. He made many gifts for others over the years, recycling things like window shutters to make hanging organization units. He fixed the neighborhood kids’,his sons’ and later his grandgirls’ bikes, wagons, and other toys.

He worked on the Little League fields, helped coach Little League teams, and coached a Little Dribblers Basketball team. He helped make the chili for the annual Chili Supper to raise money for the SHS Basketball Boys’ teams. He helped create yard signs for SHS athletes. He cooked hamburgers and served food to raise money for the SHS Football Program and SHS football players and for the SHS Track Program. 

He enjoyed working on the family farm with his father and his brother and sons, as well as gardening in his yard- he grew a lot of tomatoes and peppers and other vegetables. He planted a lot of fruit trees and celebrated when the fruit was ready to eat. He enjoyed cooking after he retired and would share the food he made and the food he’d grown with others. He often made some interesting, delicious food. When his family gathered at his home, he would be the last to sit down, making sure everyone else had what they needed or wanted.

Larry enjoyed helping others- he would give someone “the shirt off his back” if needed and would give any help he could to others. He had many friends, could remember everyone’s names as well as who they were related to. He made friends everywhere he went, even during his last month in the hospital. 

Family was very important to Larry - he enjoyed time spent with his sons and their wives. He loved laughing and playing with the granddaughters. The girls brought him so much joy and loved him so much. He was their “Grampy” except for Motley, the 3 year old, who called him “Bampy”. 

He married Wynola Merle Ratheal on Sunday, June 29, 1980 in the First Baptist Church in Crosbyton, Texas. 

He is survived by his wife, Wynola, 

His son Tucker Wayne Early and his wife, Lindsey Lisa Watt of Snyder

His son Trent Walker Early and his wife, Jessie Anne Dodington of Lubbock, TX.

His granddaughters: Emma Sue Early of Fort Towson, OK, Kinsley Elizabeth Early, Piper Rayne Early, Motley Autumn Early, and Rumour Dixie Early, all of Snyder, TX.

His parents: Bill and Wanda Early of Snyder,,

His sister Donna Gail Early and her husband Cliff Stewart of Weatherford,TX.

His brother Keith Duane Early and his wife Debbie Curd of Snyder..

Larry Early was preceded in death by his middle son, Tyler Randall Early who died shortly after birth. 

A "Celebration of Life' will be held in the Snyder First Baptist Church Family Life Center at 2 PM, Saturday, March 15 2025.

The family suggests donations to your favorite charity or that “acts of kindness” are done for others with the comment “don’t pay me back, pass it on to someone else.” Larry loved doing things for others and was always looking for ways to help other people, no matter where he was. (Please feel free to send flowers to his beloved mother and father if that is your desire.)