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Larry W. Simpson © Enid News and Eagle 08-24/25-2021 Submitted by: Glenn
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Larry Simpson, longtime museum owner, actor, producer and cowboy, passed away Monday morning at the age of 75.
His brother, Rick Simpson, and several of his friends, remembered Larry for his humor and kindness.
“Interacting with people came naturally to Larry,” Rick Simpson said. “He could make a joke with anybody. He was your friend when he met you, then he was pretty much your friend from then on. He had a heart of gold and he loved people, and people instinctively loved him. They could recognize he was genuine; there wasn’t anything phony about him. Larry was my big brother for 71 years, and I couldn’t have asked for a better one.
“When we were little kids and Larry was going somewhere with his friends, mom always said, ‘Take Rick with you.’ He never complained about bringing me along with him. When you’re a little kid, you remember those things. He raised three great kids and will be sorely missed by people from all over the United States.”
“Larry brought so much joy and humor to anything he was involved with,” Frank Baker said. “I started working with Larry and his family on advertising Simpson’s Mercantile through radio and a local ad agency many years ago. It continued when I took over the role of the villainous Banker Behan in their movies after the passing of Todd Smith, the original Behan. “Larry was a master of keeping people smiling, happy and motivated on set. There’s a lot of waiting around when you shoot a film, and Larry — along with his brother Rick — were professional, yet kept the vibe light and fun. “If Larry entered a room, you smiled. Simple as that. Good guy. I’m gonna miss the hell out of him.” Larry starred in and produced two documentaries and six western films written and directed by Rick. He participated in Crime Stoppers, as well as the Cherokee Strip Celebration and other events and organizations.
“Larry was a wonderfully generous soul,” said Carmen Ball, local Gaslight Theatre actress and director. “He had so much fun, and liked everyone around him to have fun, too. Larry was always a cut-up, but he never made a joke at somebody else’s expense. He was always gentle in his humor.” Services are pending with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
“Larry was my big brother for 71 years, and I couldn’t have asked for a better one.”
~ Rick Simpson
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Larry W. Simpson ("Texas")
February 5, 1946 - August 23, 2021
A Mass of Christian Burial for Larry W. Simpson, age 75 years, of Enid, will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with Father Mark Mason officiating. Burial, with the United States Army providing military honors, will follow in Enid Calvary Cemetery under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home. Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 29, at the funeral home.
Larry was born to Kenneth P. and Dorothy (Johnrow) Simpson on February 5, 1946, in Enid, and passed away Monday, August 23, 2021, after a lengthy illness. Larry attended Enid Schools where he excelled in sports before graduating from Enid High School in 1964. He attended Oklahoma State University and Phillips University, from where he graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. Larry served in the National Guard from 1969-1975. He married Cathy Stovall and had two children, Matt and Shelby. He joined Simpson Surplus, the family business, which later became Simpson's Mercantile, of which he was president. He married Stephanie Russell and this union produced a son, Colton. The mercantile was noted for it's "Krazy Kaper" commercials. These commercials led to acting jobs in national network shows such as Dallas and Unsolved Mysteries, for which K.P., Larry and Rick also wrote stories and did location work.
In 1994, they started their own company, Skeleton Creek Productions, where they produced documentaries as well as family type westerns for which they won several film festivals. Larry played the part of the feisty comical Texas Clapsaddle, and along with Cimarron, played by Tom Ward, virtually stole every scene they were in!
Larry was preceded in death by his father, K.P. Simpson; his mother, D.J.; and sister, Mary White. He is survived by three children, Matt, of Poway, CA; Shelby, of Norman, OK; and Colton, of Dallas, TX; brother, Rick Simpson and wife Karen, of Enid; brother-in-law Carl White, of Ames; nieces, Jordy White, of Ames, and Gretchen Compano and husband Luca, of Palmdale, CA; and nephew, Rylan White and wife Lisa. He is also survived by a pasture full of friends.
Memorial contributions in Larry's name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Gary Sinise Foundation with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.
Condolences may be made, memories shared, and services viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com.
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