Larry E. Gauldin, age 71, of Columbia, MO, formerly of Malta Bend, MO, died Thursday, January 28, 2021, at The Living Center in Marshall, MO.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 3, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Marshall, with Fr. Tom Alber officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will follow at Ridge Park Cemetery in Marshall.
A celebration of life service will be scheduled at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Peter Catholic Church, Fitzgibbon-Mary Montgomery Hospice or The Living Center, in care of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Marshall. Friends may sign the online register book at www.campbell-lewis.com
Born June 30, 1949 in Marshall, he was the son of Mary Kathryn Castle Gauldin and Alva C. “Buzzy” Gauldin Jr., who both preceded him in death. He was a 1967 graduate of Malta Bend R-5 High School where he was a standout athlete – setting the school record in the 100-yard dash. Later in life, he once recorded two holes-in-one during a round of golf.
He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he was a member of Farmhouse Fraternity, in 1971 with a degree in agriculture. After a brief stint as the Vo-Ag teacher at Malta Bend, he farmed for over 35 years.
On December 21, 1990, in Las Vegas, NV, he married Linda Samson. He retired to Henderson, NV in 2010 to be near the casinos he so loved and returned to Missouri to live in Columbia in 2015.
Larry was a pioneer of no-till farming – his accomplishments bringing him recognition from the Missouri Soil and Water Conservation program. He crafted a planter that allowed him to plant seed and apply fertilizer in a single pass across the field.
Always quick with one-liners, Larry once lamented, “My rain gauge is half-empty.” There were no strangers in Larry’s life. He could hold a conversation with a Senator or Governor as easily as with a fellow farmer over a beer at the Legion Hall. In a hospitality tent outside Arrowhead Stadium on one occasion, he spotted Chiefs General Manager Carl Peterson and called out, “Hey Carl … everything is fine in Malta Bend!” – prompting a puzzled look from Peterson. When Larry and Linda renewed their wedding vows in Las Vegas, he brought the Elvis impersonator who officiated the service home for drinks.
Survivors include his wife, Linda; four children, Karey Welch of Kansas City, MO, Matt Gauldin (Erin) of Kansas City, MO, Robert Gauldin (Nate Silver) of Brooklyn, NY and Alyxandria Gauldin of Columbia; two stepchildren, Julie Ray (Ransom) of Lee’s Summit, MO and Mick Summers (Ali) of Marshall; four grandchildren, Kyla Welch, Lincoln Ray, Jordyn Gauldin and Emmett Summers; one sister, Lynne Ott (Ron) of Marshall; one brother, Cliff Gauldin (Paula) of rural Marshall; several nieces and nephews.