OBITUARY: Larry Dean Maine November 11, 1941 - June 5, 2024

Larry Dean Maine was born November 11, 1941 in Nebraska to Raymond Maine and Anita Green Maine. He grew up in Gearheart, Oregon always following his older brother Neal around. He was a good runner and when he got cancer later in life the doctors could tell by listening to his heart that he had ran in his younger years. They could also see in his eyes that he didn't eat his vegetables! Larry tried to join the Marines at 17, but his dad wouldn't sign for him to go. At 18 he joined and while in the middle of the ocean on a troop ship yelled to his dad, "YOU WERE RIGHT!" Right that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. After his service he married "Ber": Bernadette Rose Wock. They had two daughters and while raising the girls in Arizona Larry provided by framing and stucco work, which he was really good at. He told us stories of growing sunflowers and keeping a seed of the biggest sunflower, planting it the next year again and again until he had to climb a ladder to take the flowering top off. One time it was about 20 pounds and almost took him off the ladder! He worked such long hours that he wanted to spend more time with his girls and decided to lay on the floor in their bedroom at the end of the day and visit. That time was a nice memory for him.

Here is what Larry wrote and gave Eli to read about him when he passed away....

"He was raised in Gearhart Oregon and his dad was a logger. His parents were hard working and caring people.

There were three kids, a sister and a brother for him.

When I went to high school we went to Seaside, Oregon to school, but still lived in Gearheart, Oregon.

Anyway, his dad became janitor of the Gearheart Grade School and told his sons, "If you work in the woods you can't live in my house."

Neil, Larry's brother and him played football, worked at the golf course and seemed to have a good childhood doing all manner of work, avoiding the temptation of logging.

He spoke respectfully of both his dads and moms consistent care of others in need, and his dads wisdom in correcting him at key times.

Larry joined the Marines when fresh from high school.

After the Marines he came back to marriage and the life of a carpenter, until coming to Alaska in 1986."

The most important thing to Larry was his faith in Jesus. "The name above all names," he'd say. Larry decided to learn to read and write mid-life when he realized it would help him understand his faith. His school teachers would have been amazed at the amount of reading, studying and note keeping he eventually did! He just needed a good reason and found it in time. His favorite verse of a hymn was, "Tis rest to know and do His will."

A highlight was going to Nome to pan for gold while living in a tent on the beach. There he became part of a story and was later found in a book, "Swimming to Antartica", by his friend, Lynn Cox. She captured Larry well. While she swam in the ocean along the beach, Larry volunteered to walk the beach and keep an eye on her. One time he walked backwards so she knew the wind and waves were taking her back not forward. In July 2021 he invited Lynn to visit Petersburg, Alaska to connect with her again, and to share her story at the Petersburg Public Library.

Larry spent a lot of time in the shop Joe Short gave him to work in. There he made many gifts for people: tables, coffee tables, picture frames, and treasure chest boxes from wood he collected that had been part of old buildings, had stamped shipping names, dates or the redwood that was part of the old Kake water tank. He collected cast iron pots and pans, fixed them up and gave them away, along with old wood stoves. In his last years he collected salt water and was making salt by reducing it on his wood stove. When he moved to Mountain View Manor he continued this process, but just set two pans on the table in front of a window. It'd take a month to reduce it to salt rather than a couple days.

This was another thing he gave to people as well as another study with history and a spiritual parallel. He was always making us rich with his gifts, laughter and kindness. In his last year he often said, "Just be kind." He felt it applied to everything. He was often seen slowing driving his little Toyota, giving rides, or standing downtown welcoming passing friends to "his office" to chat. At the Manor he had a group of lady friends who called him "one of the gals". They appreciated how he talked and kidded with them. He ran errands for some, checking their mail or buying groceries and even had a bag given to him with "Maine Mail" written on it as he became the delivery man between two friends sharing recipes, notes and kindness.

He often announced he was going home to cook "steak and lobster". It was really just canned soup for many years and then turned into the perfecting of meatloaf. Larry did many building favors for people including helped with the partial construction of several homes. He would immediately stop what he had planned if someone needed him. He loved birthday pie, and a thank you in the form of lemon meringue pies. He even bought a mini pie pan holding a fresh lemon for a gift to Anna Lucas, who shared his birthday. He was preparing her for the future! Early mornings and later evenings Larry could be found at the Scow Bay Turn Around in his truck reading his Bible. This is where he was the night before he passed away.

In his home he had rows of string along one wall with many photos attached for a viewing of special times and people. Larry had wisdom to keep encouraged.

Larry Dean Maine is survived by his big brother and sister, Neil and Laverne: his two daughters, Trina Maine and Carlita Madonia; granddaughter, Amber Graham and grandson Bryan Moore; great grandchildren Penelope Paige Keough and Abilgail Graham; adopted family Jennifer Ford and family, Michael and Lily Ford and family, Joe and Gywnne Short and family, and Eli and Tara Lucas and family.

Larry passed away June 5th, 2024 and there was a graveside service June 12th.

There will be a memorial in the form of a potluck Saturday, February 1st, 2025 at the Sons of Norway Hall from 5pm to 8pm. Please bring a dish and/or dessert, along with a story.