Larry James Dobson, 72, died peacefully on September 3, 2016, at Kansas City Hospice House. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 9th, 4:00 pm at Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO.  

Larry was born on January 13, 1944, in Vermillion, South Dakota, to Raymond and Alma (Thompson) Dobson. He lived in farming communities in South Dakota and then in Nebraska. Larry loved caring for animals on the farm and helped his family grow and harvest grain crops. Larry graduated from Stromsburg Public School in Stromsburg, Nebraska.  

Larry worked with some friends and traveled to different states to build grain elevators. While in Princeton, Indiana, he met and married Connie (Jones) Dobson in 1965. Larry was drafted to Vietnam and spent the entire year of 1966 in An Khe as a medic in the First Air Cavalry Unit. Larry was modest about his service in Vietnam, but his unit was paramount in saving the lives of many wounded troops.  

After returning home, Larry and Connie settled in Stromsburg, Nebraska, and began to farm with Larry’s father. The couple had two children, Shannon Gale Dobson and Derek David Dobson. Many great family memories were made, including trips to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and trips to Indiana to visit Connie’s family.  

Larry had a great love for animals of all kind, especially cats. In his final years, he adopted an orphaned black cat, Charlie, who was his constant companion and best friend. Larry also loved baseball. He played in Legion Leagues into his 30s. He would listen to MLB games on the AM radio in his tractor for hours and watched games on TV. He was so happy to get to see his beloved Royals win the World Series in both 1985 and 2015.

Larry and Connie retired from farming in 1993 and moved to Calvert City, KY. Larry built boat docks until he was unable to work due to his lung disease. They then moved to The Villages, FL, in 2001 where they lived until Connie’s death in 2005. Larry then moved to Blue Springs, MO, to live with his daughter Shannon and her family. Watching his grandchildren grow up was Larry’s goal and biggest joy and he was able to do just that!  

Larry was proceeded in death by his wife, parents, brother Lyle Dobson, sister Sylvia Dobson and nephew Peter Dobson. Larry is survived by his son Derek Dobson of Seattle, WA; daughter Shannon (Dobson) Halvorsen and son-in-law Steven Halvorsen of Blue Springs, MO; granddaughter Kathryn “Katie” Halvorsen of Springfield, MO; grandson Daniel Halvorsen of Blue Springs, MO; and niece Jennifer (Dobson) Dekel of Woodland Hills, CA.  

Larry was loved my so many people, from Nebraska, to Indiana, to Kentucky, to Florida, to Missouri. And beyond! The number of lives he has touched, whether directly or indirectly, is beyond measure.  

Larry will be buried with military honors at Bushnell National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family would request a memorial gift in Larry’s honor, to Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter, PO Box 29121, Parkville, MO 64152. Please designate that the memorial gift is in memory of Larry Dobson and to be used for The Cat House. Online donations can be made at http://parkvilleshelter.com/tribute-or-memorial-donation/

Arrangements:  Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO   816-847-4441