Let the memory of Larry be with us forever.
Larry Hopper was born January 22, 1940 at home on the farm in Marshall County, Alabama. He was the 4th of 5 children born to Paul Cranston Hopper. Sr. and Muriel Baker Hopper. His siblings were Cranston Hopper, Jim Hopper, Freida Hopper Moss, and Linda Hopper Nash.
Larry was raised on the farm working and helping the family to survive. Times were tough, but there was enough to keep them going.
When Larry was around age 14 to 15, his daddy decided to move to Michigan and work in the auto industry. When Larry finished school that year, the rest of the family moved to be with his daddy. Larry enjoyed that summer and thought Michigan would be a good place to live. But his mother did not like Michigan and wanted to get back to the farm and Alabama.
When he was 16 years old, his daddy bought a store on Hwy 75 close to the Blount County line. During this time Larry started seeing a girl from school, Gayle Murray and they were married in June of 1958.
In October of 1959, their first child, a daughter was born with medical complications. The daughter, Tricia, was immediately rushed to a Birmingham hospital where the 19 year old daddy made life or death decisions.
During the marriage Larry worked several jobs- Big Spring Minnow Farms, Leonard Wright Poultry Farm. Ralston Purina Chicken Processing, Eagle Long Haul Trucking, and Gold Kist Chicken Processing.
In 1969 the Hoppers welcomed a son, Nigel (ni-gull). Nigel was a healthy, happy baby. He did have issues with slight club feet and wore corrective shoes 23 hrs a day as an infant. He was all boy loving Hot Wheels, baseball, and go-carts.
As years passed the children grew and Larry enjoyed watching them in whatever activity they pursued. In 1977, he and Gayle began square dancing where eventually Larry learned to call the dances and teach classes. However, after 22 years of marriage, in 1981 it dissolved. This was not an easy decision for either one, but it was the best decision for both. In May of 1982, Larry married Jerre Ann Stewart Henson. Jerry enjoyed Larry's love of square dancing and he continued to call dances. He would spend 30 years dancing, calling and teaching. In December of 2004 Larry suffered a stroke that would have killed others, but because of his regiment of physical daily exercise he survived. It wasn't easy to recoup, but determined he was. However, this stroke would come back to haunt him in later years. A year after the stroke and rehab, he was walking, talking, eating by mouth, driving, and since he had retired in January 2005 from Gold Kist, looking for a part time job. He worked several, but finally found one he loved as a schoolcrossing guard at Guntersville City Schools where he remained for 13 yrs. He began piddling with different hobbies. He and his son, Nigel, formed a shooting group. SLOW Shooters and entered competitions. He also was into slingshot and target shooting with them. Archery was a hobby he was involved in since the early 1970's As time went on his wife's health began deteriorating. For the next few years they enjoyed the relaxing life of retirees until Jerre succumbed to respiratory issues and passed in February 2021. He grieved her for his remaining years. Larry was a talker and wanted to be around people his age, so in November 2023 Larry moved to a senior citizen apartment complex where he made many friends and participated in various activities. Life was looking good. Remember the stroke- Larry had already had a Pacemaker and Defibrillator surgically placed and was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. Now there were more issues. Larry entered the hospital in April 2024 and was diagnosed with NASH (non alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver), COPD, Emphysema, and tested positive for covid. Even though he would be transferred to rehab twice during this time, Larry could never get stronger and passed quietly in his home on May 17, 2024 six months after moving to the apartment. His death certificate listed COPD as primary cause.
Resting place · Douglas Cemetery, Douglas, Alabama
A gesture of sympathy in their memory.
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I have a million memories from my childhood with Uncle Larry. I cherish them, but my favorite memories are when I got older. At every gathering, Uncle Larry and I would end up deep in conversation about music. Every time. I am so very grateful for those conversations.
From Paula Hopper- I have so many happy memories of my dear, sweet Uncle Larry. I remember as a young girl spending the night with Tricia, and Larry cooking us dinner and breakfast. What made this so memorable is that my dad only fried fish and hush puppies when/if he cooked, so I didn't know a daddy could cook anything else until I was older. I remember even then Uncle Larry was alot of fun to be around. I remember him getting onto Tricia and I when they lived in the house next to Mama Hopper because we were running on the ledge of the wall around the front porch because it was pretty high up (for us). I remember listening to him practice calling square dances at the house Gayle still lives in and being amazed at him. I remember when Sierra found a duck egg at the family reunion at Cave Springs. I told her Uncle Larry would know what to do with it. He sat with her and explained what she needed to do He explained that the mother probably abandoned it because it wasn't a fertile egg and would never hatch. He was so patient with her and answered all her questions as best as he could. She still talks about that day sometimes. I remember him giving me a big, comforting hug when my daddy died, when my mother died, and when Clark died. It felt just like my daddy hugging me through Larry's arms. When I would see Larry, it was like seeing my daddy again and made me feel so good. Larry always took time to talk to me about so many different things. He was so knowledgeable on so many things. The last time I talked with him one on one was about him working at Gold Kist, family history, and just laughing. I called him at the hospital a few days before he passed and both times I told him how much I loved and admired him. I will always love my Uncle Larry with all my heart and think of him often.
