James Moore
An Ode to Larry Morrison, By Ron Moore, April 25, 2026
We are here today to celebrate a man who lived his 72 years of life with a heart wide open and a smile that never faded. Larry Morrison didn’t just pass through life; he embraced it, squeezed every drop of joy out of it, and made sure everyone around him felt that same warmth. To Larry, every day was a gift he couldn't wait to unwrap. He had that rare, beautiful trait of being genuinely happy—not because everything was perfect, but because he chose to see the best in everything and everyone.
Larry’s greatest source of joy was his family. I recall that, back in 2002, right after Marlena and Chris had become engaged, our two families met at a downtown St. Pete restaurant for an engagement dinner and the opportunity to get to know each other better. Larry and I were a bit isolated at the end of the dinner table and, at one point our conversation turned somewhat seriously to our greatest joys. Larry briefly looked down the table at Deb and Chris, then without hesitation spoke of Deb as his greatest discovery in life and Chris as his greatest achievement. Hearing those words from Larry made me immediately think that, with Larry as his mentor, what a wonderful husband Chris will be for Marlena. And, of course, Larry would go on to cherish all the good times spent with Chris, Marlena and his grandchildren, Christian, Jayna and Hope, demonstrating to them, simply through his actions, that "life is good" and something to be celebrated every day.
Oh, and another thing that Larry loved was finding a bargain, and he would never tire of telling you about his latest commercial conquest. However, I don’t believe that his love for a bargain was simply about being thrifty; it was about his boundless optimism. Larry saw potential in everything, and I now believe that his love for bargains was maybe just a metaphor for how he approached life: he always looked for value. Value in material things, of course, but more importantly, value in time with family and value in relationships with your friends. He knew that the 'best' things weren't the most expensive, but the ones that brought the most joy. A discounted lawn chair wasn't just metal and plastic—it was a front-row seat to the sunset. A 2-for-1 dinner deal wasn't just food; it was an excuse to share a meal with someone you love.
Larry leaves us with a legacy of gratitude. He showed us that you don’t need a mansion to live like a king—you just need a good sense of humor, a bit of curiosity, and maybe a "Buy One, Get One Free" voucher for life’s many adventures.
He’s likely up there now, negotiating for a better view or checking to see if the Pearly Gates have a senior discount. And he’s doing it all with that same infectious smile that we came to know and love.
God bless Larry Morrison and prayers for God to bring peace to Deb, Chris, Marlena and the grandchildren, and to all those he loved. We will miss his presence, but we will carry his happiness with us, trying every day to live just a little more like he did.
