Larry Kearney, age 77, passed away from Congestive Heart Failure on October 8, 2018 at his home with his wife, Dianne and daughter, Cathleen by his side. Larry fought a valiant fight for many years with many health problems and had been bedridden for the last 2 ½ years. Larry was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho on January 3, 1941 to Orban John Kearney and Margaret Irene (Wellman) Kearney.
The family, consisting of four children and parents, resided in a small wood framed house on Garfield Street. During his growing up years, Larry took on the mantle of helping to care for his younger sister by working and paying for her school clothes, etc. When the “bread truck” was seen pulling in to the local grocery store, he skipped school and unloaded flour, so he could take his usual payment of a 50# sack of flour home to his mother.
Larry ran track and was always proud that as a freshman in high school he had a 4 minute 12 second mile that was a world class time. After graduation from high school, Larry worked for a year and then joined the Marine Corps, following in the steps of his two older brothers. At the end of boot camp, all his group were tested for their MOS.
He tested so high that although he expected to be sent to Vietnam, he was assigned to a secret DASA base in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was always grateful he did not have to see combat but said he would have willingly given his life if it had been necessary. Larry was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many positions throughout his life.
Larry married Pauline Hackley in 1960 and they had two daughters, Cathleen and Eileen. Pauline lost her battle with cancer in 1986. Larry married Dianne Warner of Twin Falls, Idaho on May 23, 1986.
They did not have any children together. Larry attended Brigham Young University and graduated with a BS degree in 1969. His professional career as a social worker included juvenile probation cases and later, child protection.
He worked for the States of Idaho and Utah. It is estimated that over his career, he would have worked with and had influence over 30,000 children and families. Larry is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Sharon Saltarelli; wife, Pauline Hackley Kearney; former mother-in-law, Lois Hackley Yeager; father and mother-in-law, George William “Bill” Warner and Edna Lucile Thomas Warner.
Larry is survived by his loving wife, Dianne Warner-Kearney of Draper, Utah; daughter, Cathleen (Keith) Hopkins of Farley, Iowa; daughter, Eileen (Bryce) Walker of Salt Lake City, Utah; brothers, Wayne (Connie) Kearney of Richfield, Utah; and Stanley (Charli) Kearney of Kingman, Arizona; sister-in-law, Cheryl Warner of Pleasant Grove, Utah; brothers-in-law, Robert (Mila) Warner of Draper, Utah and Richard (Shinobu) Warner of Cedar Hills, Utah; and sister-in-law, Nancy Yoshimine of Gilbert, Arizona. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, along with many nieces, nephews and extended family members. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at the Draper 15th Ward, 13112 South 700 East, Draper, Utah.
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