Bishop Funeral Home
May 9, 2023
Submitted by: Carol Spear Rice

Larry Don Plymate, 76, of Stuart, passed away Sunday, May 7, 2023 at his residence surrounded by his family. A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at Bishop Funeral Service and Crematory. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at Bishop Chapel of Memories. The Reverend Jerry "Ron" Huff and Chaplain Jeff Little will be officiating. Burial to follow at White Chimney Cemetery near Stuart. Pallbearers will be Tony Dawkins, Dakota Mize, Keaton Alexander, Greg Vaughan, Zathan Gragg, and Jaedon Hennen. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Mize, Kent Crawford, Jerry Alexander, Teddy Alexander, Tim Wilson, Brent Frank, Jerry Shackelford, Jim Ward, and Jerry Perry. Larry Don Plymate was born November 4, 1946 in McAlester to Lawrence Andrew Plymate and Zella Ilene (Killam) Plymate. He graduated from McAlester High School in 1965 then attended Oklahoma State Tech in Okmulgee where he received his Associate's degree as an Electrical Design Draftsman in 1967. Larry married his greatest love, Leona Alexander, on April 17, 1967 in Haywood. Together, they moved to Houston where he started a new job at Brown and Root, working from March 1967 until March 1975 as an Electrical Drafting and Layout Designer. After eight years, the couple returned to southeastern Oklahoma where he started a career with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in 1976, lasting 44 years until his retirement in 2020. Larry was passionate about his cars: a 1950 Ford two-door sedan and a 1931 Ford. He and Leona traveled the state going to car shows. His many trophies attest to the condition and his love for these vehicles. He enjoyed watching sports, but mostly the University of Oklahoma softball team. GO SOONERS! His family was his greatest treasure. His children and grandchildren attest that he never missed a sporting event or any activity that they were part of. He will be remembered as a jokester, wanting to make people laugh and enjoy life. He was a willing and able 'servant' to his family and friends because God had given him the "Gift of Helps." No task was too difficult for his ability and expertise, and he was more than willing to lend a hand. Larry is survived by his wife: Leona Plymate of the home; children: Leslie Mize and husband, Jim, and Deanna Crawford and husband, Kent; grandchildren: Tony Dawkins and wife, Brittney, Dakota Mize and Brooke Wilkins, Cecily Gragg and husband, Zathan, and Emma Crawford and fiance', Jaedon Hennon; great-grandchildren: Kambrey, Brantley, and Landry, sisters: Linda Creason and late husband, Bill of McAlester, and Nancy Huff and husband, Ron: special friends: Greg Vaughan and wife, Ashley; and numerous nieces, nephews, and long-time friends. He is preceded in death by his parents: Lawrence "Larry" and Zella Ilene Plymate, his maternal grandparents: Lloyd and Opal Killiam, and paternal grandparents: Ben W. and Ida (Leigh) Plymate.