Lawrence Raymond (“Larry”) Hood, age 77, of Kiowa died on April 21 at Denver Hospice. He had been in ill health for several months. 

Larry was born in Lamar, Colorado, on August 13, 1939, to Leonard and Truva (Chenoweth) Hood. He grew up in Lamar and was a star on the basketball and baseball teams at Lamar High School. 

Larry attended the University of Colorado for one year, where he played basketball. He transferred to Panhandle A&M College (later Panhandle State University) in Goodwell, Oklahoma, where he also played basketball and graduated in 1962 with a degree in social studies.

Larry met his future wife, Betty (Wiley), in 1956 in Lamar. They married on May 31, 1959, in her hometown of Keyes, Oklahoma, and were married for 57 years. The couple had three children – Leona, born in 1960; Larry in 1963; and Larissa in 1978.

After finishing college, Larry and Betty moved in 1962 to Elbert, where he coached basketball and track and taught social studies. His high school and junior high teams brought several trophies home to the Elbert School, and Larry started the PeeWee basketball program in Elbert.

In 1966 the family moved to Denver, where Larry worked as a credit manager at Montgomery Ward. The Hoods moved back to Elbert County in 1968, where Larry taught and coached at Kiowa School.

Larry then earned a business degree from Barnes Business College and worked for the Banner Distributing Company. In 1973, he started a new career with the U.S. Postal Service in Denver. He was a supervisor for many years, and was well known in postal circles for helping establish and perfect the Business Reply Mail System. He was with the USPS for 31 years before retiring in 2004.   

In his younger days, Larry was an outstanding athlete who played semi-pro baseball and earned a tryout with the New York Yankees as a pitcher in 1957. He continued a lifelong love of sports, enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren compete, and attended every game he could. Larry also loved fishing with his long-time friends from the post office, Jacy Jones and Marshall McDonald, and enjoyed playing pool at the local pub. 

Larry leaves behind his wife, Betty, of Kiowa; daughter Leona (Bill) Staton of Wheaton, Illinois; son Larry of Dale, Oklahoma; daughter Larissa (Sam) Marchiori of San Antonio, Texas; grandson Will (Jill) Staton of Gilcrest, Colorado; granddaughter Angela (Scott) McLerran of Hudson, Colorado; granddaughter Rebecca Staton of Chicago, Illinois; grandchildren Lauren, Lacey and Landon Hood of Dale; granddaughters Madison and Macy Marchiori of San Antonio; and great-grandchildren Hailey and Connor Staton and Sabrina and Steven McLerran. Larry was predeceased by his parents.

A memorial service is planned for June 3 in Kiowa. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in the name of Larry Hood to the Kiowa or Elbert High School sports programs or to Denver Hospice. 

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