It’s always hard to say goodbye but none harder than in times like these….
Richard Larry Ashley, age 73, of Brownwood passed away Sunday, April 19, 2020. Richard, known to his family and friends as “Larry”, was born on November 13, 1946, in Pensacola, Florida to Elsie (Chavers) Adams and Charles Ashley.
Larry was laid to rest at Bangs Cemetery with a family graveside service Tuesday, April 21, 2020. Arrangements are under direction of Blaylock Funeral Home of Brownwood. Online condolences for the family are welcome at www.blaylockfuneralhome.com.
Larry began his life being born a blue baby and wasn’t expected to live. Of his childhood, Larry said some of his best memories were eating stew and cornbread from a cast iron pot and skillet, working on the farm with his family and sitting around his grandfather’s rocking chair as his grandfather read the Bible to the grandchildren. After completing the 11th grade, Larry left home and set out to find his own way. He traveled and lived in several states including Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, before finally making Brown County, Texas his home. He loved Brown County and would enthusiastically declare, “Hey, I might not be a Texas native, but I got here as soon as I could.”
Larry spent 28 years working in the healthcare industry as an orderly. He learned many nursing skills as an orderly and loved his work. He was very devoted to giving the best care possible to his clients and walked many miles daily to care for them, most of the time walking to and from Bangs and Brownwood. Larry had a huge heart; his acts of kindness and the love he had for others was limitless.
At a very young age, Larry accepted Christ as his Savior. Later in life, he developed a heart condition causing him to die three times and all three times he was brought back to life. Larry loved to give his testimony of the miracle that his life had been and claimed each day as a blessing from God. He would always say the reason he was still walking this earth was “because God isn’t finished with me yet”.
Larry’s final years were spent at Songbird Lodge. As a resident there, just as he had been life before Songbird, he was the same kind, optimistic man, and had the most positive outlook on life. He was the life of the party, a social butterfly and helped organize events and activities for his fellow residents at Songbird. Over the years, Larry touched many lives through his work and his testimony. He is already sorely missed.
Left behind to cherish his memory are his three beloved sisters, Joyce Pugh of Early, Sheila Hendrix and husband Don of Floresville, Charlotte Cook and husband Byron of Pensacola, FL; three nephews; three nieces; several great-nephews and great-nieces; one great-great-nephew and one great-great-niece.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Ashley and Elsie Adams; and one niece, Taunja Adams.
