Salt Lake City-Utah
Larry Orr passed away September 4, 2023, surrounded by his family in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was a husband, father, uncle, and grandfather. He fostered his family with a love of perseverance and kindness.
Larry was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to his parents Forrest and Ione Orr. He was the youngest of three children. He joined the Army after high school, serving from 1969 to 1972 at Fort Hood, Texas where he played brass in the Army Band. After studying architecture at the University of Minnesota, Larry dedicated his work and time to the Vinland National Center where he pioneered cross country sit skiing for people with spinal cord injuries. He then moved to Utah in 1981.
During his time in Utah Larry worked as a rehabilitation specialist at the Utah Independent Living Center and as a recreational opportunity consultant for the University of Utah. Through a collaboration with the Paul Hill Adaptive Sports program, Larry continued to champion sports for people with disabilities. A peer mentor to many, Larry taught others that there was life after a spinal cord injury. After graduating from Salt Lake Community College, he started his graphic design career for University of Utah Hospital in 1991. For nearly 20 years, Larry’s meticulous and creative efforts contributed to significant projects at the Rehabilitation Center and School of Medicine.
Larry enjoyed artistic expression and created pieces of art in paint, sculpture, pencil, model, graphic design, photography, and many other forms. He loved to push the limits of his achievements. In his free time, he enjoyed cross country and downhill skiing, hand cycling, basketball, tennis, kayaking and camping.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents and sisters Bette and Jolene. He is survived by his wife Marianne, his three children Johnson Orr, Samuel Orr, and CJ Patterson (Bill), his grandchildren Evelyn and Wesley and his nieces and nephews Todd Schoeben, Teresa Fahey, Tammy Schelitzche, and Christopher Orr.
Services will be held at 12:30 PM on Saturday, September 23 at the Hyland Lake Ward Chapel, 981 E. Revere Circle, Murray, UT 84117. A visitation will be held prior to the services from 11:00-12:00 PM. Interment will be at the Payson City Cemetery, 400 N. 800 E., Payson, UT 84651. Funeral services will be streamed live on Zoom. Please click the link below to join the service:
https://zoom.us/j/92084327615