Larry Dean Volner, son of Ulas Vern Volner and the late Geraldine (Carder) Volner, was born July 13, 1959, in Mountain Grove, and departed this life suddenly Sep. 21, 2021, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. He was 62 years, 2 months and 8 days of age. Larry was united in marriage to Pamela Sue Miller on Nov. 10, 1979. Three children were born to this union. They lived all over the place but settled down and made their home in Wright County, Missouri. Larry enjoyed making people laugh no matter what or when something was going on, even if it was a serious event, that never stopped him. The man knew no strangers as he would talk to anyone, even if he had never met them before. You wouldn’t ever bet or dare him to do anything, especially if you were the type of person that would be embarrassed. If you did you learned very quickly not to make that mistake again. Once, Larry was bet by one of his brothers to see who could date this pretty girl first and well, after a long road and 42 years of marriage, Larry obviously took that bet and was the first one to ask Pamela Sue to go out on a date. Larry was truly the “jack of all trades.” He loved working on cars, mowers, and any and everything he could get his hands on, even when he was bull headed and wasn’t supposed to. He enjoyed going up to his dad and mom’s house and doing stuff with his dad. Even when his dad didn’t have anything he needed done he would keep saying we need to do something dad. He also enjoyed riding horses, running from the cops on the ATVs with his family, and mowing yards, even if it meant he had to drive his mower all the way across the town of Norwood. He knew how to drive cars even if a lot of times it was faster than he should have been. According to his grandpa Orval Volner, Larry was the “best dang driver” he had ever ridden with. Larry had many types of jobs and many more that he was offered but didn’t take. Larry used to go out with his brothers to help them get jobs and would come back with three or more jobs and his brothers wouldn’t have any. He was just a smooth-talking guy that had a unique way of communicating with people that not very many people have. Some of his more recent jobs were dairy farming for all the local farmers and hauling Amish, which brought him so much joy. Larry was preceded in death by his mother, Geraldine Volner; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bentley and Mary Miller; grandparents, Lester and Edna Carder and Orval and Martha Volner; and several aunts, uncles and other family members that he loved dearly.
Larry is survived by his wife and loving best friend, Pamela Volner, of their home in Norwood; his dad and companion, Ulas Volner and Charlotte Thibault, of Mountain Grove; two daughters and one son, Rhonda and her husband, Steven Sparbel, of Norwood; Samantha and her husband, Derek Meredith, of Norwood; and Jeremy Volner and his girlfriend, Heather Cierley, of Houston; two sisters and four brothers, Mary and her husband, Eric Hardin, of Norwood; Terry and his wife Tammy Volner, of Norwood; Gail and her husband, Randy Miller, of Mountain Grove; Tommy Volner and his girlfriend, Mandy Creed, of Hartville; Jake and his wife, Amber Volner, of Puxico; Heywood and his wife, Donna Gidcumb, of Illinois; six grandkids, Hailee, Cali, Nathaniel, Madison, Jacob and Logan; two fur grandbabies, Nikitta and Patches; and several other aunts, uncles and other family members that he loved dearly. Larry was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and good friend that was greatly loved and will be missed by family and everyone that ever-crossed paths with him because he didn’t know a stranger. Visitation for Larry Volner was held Sunday, Sep. 26, 2021, from 2-4 p.m. at The Life Church, Mountain Grove. Funeral services were held Monday, Sep. 27, 2021, at 2 p.m., also at the church, with Pastor Durone Strickland officiating. Jeremy Volner, Harold Gidcumb, Jake Volner, Billy Volner, Chad Miller, Steven Miller, William Croney and Koda Bruton served as pallbearers. Steven Sparbel, Derek Maredith, Nicky Volner, Austin Volner, Dustin Miller, Thomas Volner, Jay Beal and Shawn Dodds served as honorary pallbearers. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mountain Grove. Memorial contributions may be made to the family to help with expenses. Online condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com
