Larry Frank

Larry Edward Frank, 70, of Cambridge, Idaho passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family, on March 11, 2023 after a courageous 2 ½ year battle with Leukemia. Larry was born February 12, 1953 in Toledo, Oregon to Rowan and Barbara (Gelskey) Frank. He was the middle of three children. Eight months after his birth, the family moved and settled in Weiser, Idaho. Larry attended Weiser schools and graduated (miraculously) from Weiser High in 1971. From an early age, Larry loved fishing the Little Salmon River and enjoyed many camping trips at Evergreen Campground with family. Larry was passionate about playing basketball and football in his youth; if his grades allowed. His first job was a paper route at age 10 which forced him to get up at 5:00 a.m. (He claimed that’s why he didn’t like school.) One of his fondest memories was riding his bike in the springtime to pick asparagus and fish the Snake River. Larry always kept his mom, Babs, on her toes! Whether it was breaking a bone, getting kicked out of class or other mischievous acts with his friends. Larry had a love for baseball and football and was an avid Yankee and Packer fan. Boy he disliked the Mariners and the amount of bantering between him and “JimBob” Peterson was unrivaled for many years. Upon graduating high school, he started working for Union Pacific Railroad on a traveling work gang and then spent most of his career as a Track Inspector. Larry’s greatest joys were his three daughters Theresa, Kelli and Melissa who all adored him. While the girls were little the railroad moved the family around Idaho and Wyoming. In 1987, Larry returned to Weiser and raised “his babies”, which he still lovingly referred to them as until his passing. Larry didn’t miss any of the girls’ activities and enjoyed watching and supporting their softball, basketball, volleyball, band, color guard, cheerleading, bowling and 4-H interests. Larry was their biggest fan and loudest patron; yelling at the referees was his specialty. He liked passing out peanut M&M’s and dollars to younger siblings of the girls’ teammates that came to cheer on the Wolverines. After dating for several years he married the love of his life, Judy Mecham, in October of 2005. They spent nearly 30 loving and comical years together traveling, gardening, canning and attending concerts, sporting events and game nights with family. Larry retired from a hard, yet rewarding, 35 year career with the railroad in the Spring of 2007. He was adamant on watching Major League Baseball spring training in Arizona and he and Judy were able to make this happen three years in a row. 2012 was a highlight year for Larry as he was promoted to Papa when his first grandson Kellan was born. He traveled to Alaska many times to spoil him and deep sea fish. In 2014, Larry was blessed with a second grandson, Ryan, which forced him to become a frequent flier. The boys were his pride and he enjoyed cheering them on in their sports activities and caring for them over school breaks. Being a Papa was his greatest gift. Larry and Judy spent summers camping with friends, the girls and the grandkids. Their favorite place to take Kellan and Ryan was Winchester State Park. He loved teaching the boys how to fish and relax in the mountains. Friends and family spent many weekends with Larry at Lick Creek, Lafferty, Copperfield and Hells Canyon campgrounds, sipping wine and reminiscing around the campfire. Larry is survived by his loving wife, Judy; three favorite daughters, Theresa (Ben) Thomason, Kelli Frank (Adam Smith) and Melissa (Pete) Longgood; his grandchildren Kellan and Ryan Longgood, Mason and Ella Smith, Austen (Courtney and great grandson Aiden), Kyler, Maddison, Isabella and Olivia Thomason; his sister Laura (Leon) Griffin, brother Ron Frank, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Rowan and Barbara Frank and dear friend “JimBob” Peterson. Larry’s sense of humor and teasing nature will be missed by all that were blessed to know him. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Weiser Train Depot (1 State Street, Weiser) on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 11 a.m. The family would like to thank Dr. Swerdloff and the nurses at St. Luke’s Cancer Institute for their wonderful and compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Larry’s memory to the Future Wolverine Foundation at 2240 Valley View Dr Weiser, Idaho 83672.