Larry Hopper
1940 – 2024
Guntersville, Alabama

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.